<p>The United Kingdom Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme aims to increase trade from developing countries to the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) by maximizing the benefits of UK and EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The UKTP Programme works in partnership with government agencies, private sector organisations, public sector institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises and other local stakeholders. </p><p>The UKTP Programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the UK's Trade Centre of Expertise. EPA and DCTS countries participating in the UKTP Programme will have access to high quality trade-related technical assistance through sector initiatives. Target beneficiaries will be export-ready SMEs that are committed to securing new trade opportunities with the UK. This project will aim to promote exports through facilitating access to markets, providing advisory services to SMEs to improve their products and business operations, and strengthening business support organizations. </p><p>This project builds upon the lessons learnt and achievements of the UKTP programme since 2019. Previous engagement with SMEs in multiple EPA countries has shown the benefit of selecting export-ready companies with compelling products for UK customers and consumers to participate and of preparing them specifically with UK market entry services to succeed in the UK market. </p><p>This project complements and works in synergy with UKTP in the Pacific. </p>
Cambodia
Trade Centre of Expertise: UK Trade Partnerships Programme
ASEAN: Virtual Learning Space
Sustainable Development Goals
<p>This project aims at creating a platform serving as knowledge repository for stakeholders interested in certain trade-related topics imminent to the ASEAN region, based on resources developed under ITC-implemented TRTA projects in Southeast Asia. It is set to achieve scale in knowledge sharing and capacity building by reaching an audience beyond the direct project beneficiaries. The platform is created with the intention to stay for good, which will grant accessibility of resources even after the end of a project, and will therefore also become an integral part of the exit and sustainability strategy of ITC's projects in Southeast Asia. The platform will allow for a continuous inflow of resources provided by all ITC teams, and will complement ITC’s global public goods offerings by providing long-term access to otherwise not (easily) accessible comprehensive regional resources relevant to project stakeholders, and other interested users in the region.</p>
Digital Export Enablement Programme (DEEP) for ASEAN Small Businesses
Embracing new digital trade opportunities
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Google and the International Trade Centre (ITC) collaborate for the Digital Export Enablement Programme (DEEP) for small businesses in the ASEAN region (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
By equipping them with digital, export-relevant skills, the programme will help 1,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from across ASEAN member states to grow their business internationally.
We see a future where every small business from ASEAN can take full advantage of digital trade opportunities to scale their business internationally.
Driven by our belief in the power of cross-border commerce, DEEP is facilitating a unique cross-border entrepreneurial journey for small businesses from Southeast Asia, by delivering a series of trainings, access to digital platforms and practical workshops/sessions that will strengthen the capacity of MSMEs from 10 ASEAN markets and will enable them to engage in cross-border digital trade.
The hybrid training programme will cover the fundamentals of market research as well as developing skills in digital marketing and creating digital export strategies for firms.
Why should small businesses apply?
You’ll become part of a network of entrepreneurs and experts, and benefit from:
-
Coaching on market research to identify and compare trade opportunities;
-
An online self-driven e-commerce course tailored for small businesses;
-
Access to a global e-commerce community of free resources;
-
Coaching on digital marketing (only for the most motivated 150 businesses!);
-
Access to Google ads credits and/or Google consultation support for eligible SMEs;
-
A certificate from ICC, Google and ITC upon completion of the programme.
If you’d like to participate in the programme, you must:
-
Be a micro, small or medium-sized business of up to 100 employees.
-
Be located in one of the ASEAN countries (Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam).
-
Have at least one business online channel (website, marketplace store, social media account).
-
Have a strong interest in/or plan to explore markets in the ASEAN region and beyond.
Companies are invited to apply by April 30th. Applications will be reviewed by the Programme Steering Committee (ICC, Google, ITC) according to the criteria. The training will start in mid-May for a duration of 3 months. More detailed information will be provided to successful firms in the application process.
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia and Viet Nam: Conversion of ITC e-learning courses into national language versions
Sustainable Development Goals
<p>As part of its “Support of Regional Economic Cooperation in Asia” (SRECA) Project, GIZ requested the assistance of ITC to set up several SME Trade Academy online courses on trade integration topics and make them available in the four focus countries in their respective national languages. This is taking place in the context of efforts by SCRECA partners to provide online capacity building solutions following the COVID-19 outbreak.</p>
Poor Communities and Trade Programme
<p>Poor Communities and Trade Programme (PCTP), at the International Trade Centre (ITC), aims to reduce global poverty by strengthening the capacities of developing country micro-entrepreneurs, social enterprises and emerging designers for export trade, in order to connect them with international buyers, in the value chain of ethical fashion, through an inclusive business model.</p><p>PCTP provides technical expertise and business support to informal micro-enterprises and to emerging designers, through a business support infrastructure (based on hubs managed by social enterprises) that enables them to acquire capacities to set up and manage production and quality control systems, logistics and supply chain management, market identification and buyer negotiation skills. This market-based approach to poverty reduction provides micro-entrepreneurs form the informal sector (for the majority women) with the direct benefits of trade by creating jobs and facilitating business opportunities resulting in increased incomes, improved livelihoods and new linkages to the formal economy.</p>
Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Textile Value Chains
Sustainable Development Goals
<p>Clothing is one of the largest industries in the world economy employing 60 to 75 million people worldwide. The negative social and environmental impacts of the fashion industry have been well documented, demonstrating that these impacts mostly occur within the upstream portion of the value chain. Improving traceability is a priority in order to determine how and where parts and components in production processes have been sourced and what are the environmental, social and health risks in the value chain. The action will support enhanced transparency and traceability in garment value chains, through the development of an IT 'track and trace' platform that offers customized and open self-assessment and data sharing solutions for value chain stakeholders. Alongside the implementation of this platform, ITC will deliver a training and continuous improvement programme and, in collaboration with private sector partners, implement in a subset of textile and garment oriented countries.</p>
Least developed countries
We deliver customized solutions for least developed countries (LDCs), enabling them to increase their participation in the global economy and reach development goals through exports. We focus on creating access to digital technologies and capabilities in LDCs, where current internet penetration is at 27%, as this is increasingly critical to ensure opportunities are universally shared. We also assist LDCs in their bid for WTO membership, and support their implementation of WTO agreements.