Launches in Kenya, the Philippines, Turkey and Zimbabwe

National versions of Trade Secrets: The Export Answer Book were launched in Kenya, the Philippines, Turkey and Zimbabwe this spring at national launching ceremonies. Trade Secrets is a series of approximately 50 national guides, each one published jointly by ITC and a national trade-related institution. The guides provide answers to the most common exporting questions, and each guide is researched and written with the same type of research and publishing process, but the answers are customized to respond specifically to each country’s export issues and to provide the most relevant national and international contacts.

For more information, contact Sarah McCue, ITC Adviser

Public procurement in the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase following major crises can be a real concern. ITC implemented a training of trainers event in August to address this issue for countries affected by the recent crisis in Kosovo. Organized by UNDP in Romania, the event concentrated on training of trainers for international tendering procedures.

For more information, contact Wayne Wittig, Senior Adviser on Public Sector Procurement, at wittig@intracen.org

ITC has launched a new programme in early 1999 to promote regional exports to southern Africa, with financing from the Government of Switzerland. The programme was developed at the specific request of the trade promotion and business organizations southern African countries.

ITC completed a trade-flow analysis to identify products that South Africa currently imports from outside the region, yet are available within the region and, in fact, are exported to other countries. The analysis estimates that export potential to South Africa is double the current export level.

The results of the trade-flow analysis led countries of southern Africa to establish a priority list, which was reviewed and agreed upon at a Product Selection Workshop (Johannesburg, 4–6 May 1999). Five sectors were identified for further product and market development work. The first sector is fish and fish products. Detailed supply and demand analysis is now under way, carried out by the trade promotion and business organizations themselves, to be followed by a buyers-sellers meeting in Cape Town on 13 and 14 October 1999. Other sectors to be covered subsequently are wood and wood-based building materials, leather products, exotic produce and food products, and textiles and clothing.

For more information contact Hendrik Roelofsen, Senior Regional Trade Development Adviser at roelofsen@intracen.org

National trade performance profiles for 1997 are now available on ITC’s web site (http://www.intracen.org./itc/services/rau/trademap.htm). Developed by ITC’s Market Analysis Section, the profiles identify for each of the countries under review the most dynamic products (champions), underachievers, and losers in declining markets.

These profiles are part of ITC’s larger TradeMap services which offers indicators for refining international marketing strategies. Tailor-made TradeMap services are being used by trade promotion institutions and enterprises in numerous countries.

ITC and the Islamic Development Bank have agreed to work jointly to help member countries of the Islamic Development Bank fulfil requirements of the Uruguay Round agreements. Workshops on Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures will be organized later this year in Africa and Asia.