Trade Forum
The in-depth digital knowledge platform of the International Trade Centre explores export development and trade issues in developing and least developed countries. The contributions focus on trade promotion and export development as part of the International Trade Centre’s technical cooperation programme with developing countries and economies in transition.
ASEAN ministers call for reduction in obstacles to trade Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been urged to reduce obstacles to trade and ensure a free flow of trade in the region. The 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting held in August 2012 in Siem Riep,...
ITC’s Women and Trade Programme aims to help women entrepreneurs and women in export-oriented value chains derive greater economic benefit from their participation in trade. Phase I runs from 2010 to 2012 with activities in Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. To ensure all...
In 1999, Charlotte Robert took some time off from her job at the Swiss Ministry of Economy to learn Spanish in Costa Rica. During her walk to and from school each day, she was struck by the fragrance of the blossoms from a certain plant in many people’s front gardens, and soon learned they were...
During the Chinese New Year of 2007, I received a long distance call from the United Kingdom. The president of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Professor Roger Flanagan, was on the telephone and told me the board of the Institute had nominated me as president for 2009/2010. I was...
In December 2011 in London, Jordanian firm Maisam Architects and Engineers was recognized with eight prestigious Arabian Property Awards for work spanning residential, public sector and commercial architecture. What is remarkable about this 50-person firm, other than its haul of trophies, is that...
Data from the most recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) suggest that women represent approximately one third of all new business activity and one fourth of established business activity in countries around the globe. These data represent an important step in measuring women’s contribution...
Over the past decade, and even more so in recent years, the numbers of policies and programmes focused on fostering women-owned businesses have risen dramatically. The escalating investment in women’s economic empowerment has come about for two reasons. First, there is a growing body of...
The relationship between trade and gender has been hotly debated. Some say that globalization has excluded or impoverished women, causing disproportionate job losses due to the influx of foreign goods into domestic markets. Others argue that increased trade leads to greater gender equality by...