Recently added articles from International Trade Forum:
Letter from the International Trade Centre.(FORUM)
Jul 01, 2008; ... I am often asked, "why focus on the economic empowerment of women?" In short, without women, trade generates dollars, but not balanced development. Women constitute the majority of the world's poor. At the same time, women are the backbone of agriculture in Africa, light ...
ITC's annual meeting discusses the role of trade in achieving MDGs.(International Trade Centre)(Conference news)(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2008 ... ITC's Joint Advisory Group meeting was held in Geneva on 10-11 December 2008, focusing on how trade can help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Discussions looked at the role of trade in reducing poverty, empowering women and supporting the environment, as well as ways of ...
Financial crisis facility to deliver $2 billion.(World Bank Group )(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2008 ... The World Bank Group will speed funds to the world's poorest countries to help them cope with falling revenues, investment and trade in the wake of the global financial crisis. An initial $2 billion will be available to the hardest-hit countries to finance expenditures needed to maintain ...
Doha declaration urges sustained commitment to international aid.(International Conference on Financing for Development)(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2008 ... Delegates from over 160 countries met in Doha, Qatar from 29 November to 2 December 2008, for the follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development. The conference reviewed progress achieved under the 2002 Monterrey Consensus, which addresses such issues as domestic resource ...
Call for fair play in the cotton industry.(United Nations. Conference on Trade and Development)(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2008 ... Six trade ministers of African countries dependent on cotton exports have called for fair play in the international trade of cotton and for rich countries to close the gap between pledges and delivery of aid to the African cotton sector while outstanding trade issues are worked out. ...
World's poorest countries integrating trade and development policy.(Q&A)(Interview)
Jul 01, 2008; ... The Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries (EIF) brings together six international agencies to help least developed countries integrate trade capacity building in national development strategies. Today, 33 countries have ...
TPOs inspire.(INBOX)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2008; ... It is inspiring to see how the work of trade promotion organizations (TPOs) like ours is having a real impact on small businesses in our countries. The recent World Conference of Trade Promotion Organizations in The Hague provided another vital opportunity to share ideas with leaders from ...
The wheels of trade finance.(INBOX)(Letter to the editor)
Jul 01, 2008; ... While bailouts for banks and help for homeowners hit the headlines daily, scant regard is given to the grit in the engine of growth: access to trade finance. The narrow focus during this wave of the financial crisis as it hits homes in developed markets, obscures the tsunami that threatens ...
Strong women, strong world: by involving women in national economic policy, Canada is forging a model for empowering women and building the strength of domestic and global marketplaces.(FORUM)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Women are stepping forward as never before. They are becoming leaders, financial managers, business strategists, risk-takers and entrepreneurs. Canadian business and government are embracing this involvement, with an understanding that women and women-led ...
Lighting the dark: in communities around the world, strong and dedicated women are breaking gender stereotypes to earn the income they need to support their families.(FORUM)(United Nations Development Programme )(Column)
Jul 01, 2008; ... The United Nations Development Programme has estimated that a quarter of the world's families are supported exclusively by women, and another quarter primarily by women. These women are my heroines, For the past 12 years, I have worked as a photojournalist documenting women's ...
Trade policy Cambodia: by incorporating gender equality into trade policy, Cambodia is empowering women and boosting national economic performance.(FORUM)(Statistical data)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] French poet and writer Louis Aragon once said, "Woman is the future of man", expressing his vision of a society that allows women to be more in charge of its destiny. It sounds so inspirational, but can it be realized? Is gender equality ...
Trading under duress: when disaster strikes, it's usually up to women to rebuild the necessities of daily life. For many, setting up business in conflict zones is a trading reality. Women with international experience are reaching out with innovative business models to build new skills, seek new orders and create hope for women displaced by war.(FORUM)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to the International Rescue Committee, there are currently 35 million people displaced in 24 countries. Millions have had to flee their homes ...
Treasure from trash: the last straw? By using innovative new materials, African women are competing in the popular ethical fashion market around the world.(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Is it possible for communities of women based in slums to be part of a global value chain linked to high-end fashion houses? How can they compete with time, productivity of labour, ...
Good business--the potential of women-owned enterprises: global corporations are learning that buying from businesses owned by women is vital for economic growth. Initiatives like WEConnect International are providing the essential link.(BUSINESS TALK)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The contribution that women business owners can make to the growth of the global economy was recognized at the ITC's World Export Development Forum in 2008. The event included a panel on the business case for why corporations and governments should ...
In India, management skills become innovative assets: a partnership between ITC and an Indian bank has shown how lenders can safely use competency as collateral against small business loans.(BUSINESS TALK)(Export-Import Bank of India)(International Trade Centre)
Jul 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Traditionally, lenders wouldn't dare offer credit to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) without financial collateral. But since a major Indian bank began doing just that in 2007, the results have been staggering. In just over a year, they have ...
Success through shea: by producing and exporting shea butter to The Body Shop, an enterprising collective in northern Ghana is improving conditions for women and their communities, An ITC initiative in Mali shows similar potential through government strategy.(BUSINESS TALK)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The women of western Africa have been using shea nut butter for centuries to protect their skin from dry Saharan winds. Through innovative enterprise, it's now protecting them in other ways, too. Since 1994, a group of women in northern Ghana ...
Women in coffee: around the world, women play a major role in the production of coffee. A handful of international associations are working to ensure their access to equal ownership and employment conditions.(TRADE TRENDS)(Statistical data)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On the family-owned coffee plots that produce most of Africa's coffee, it is usually women who undertake the majority of maintenance and harvesting work. Here, and in other coffee-producing areas around the world, their contribution is vital. Despite this, ...
Accessing export, accessing opportunity: in Tunisia, the ACCESS! Programme for African Businesswomen in International Trade is paving the way for women artisans to export their products.(TRADE TRENDS)(International Trade Centre)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recognizing the unique challenges faced by women seeking trade support services in Africa, ITC developed the ACCESS! programme in 2005 with the goal of providing greater participation of African businesswomen in international trade. Funded by ...
Buying from Africa for Africa: by supplying products and services to international aid agencies, small African enterprises are improving the prosperity of their businesses and communities.(TRADE TRENDS)
Jul 01, 2008; ... More than half of the annual aid procurement market, worth an estimated $10 billion, is destined for Africa. Supporting African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including businesses owned by women, to access this market has enormous potential for economic growth and development. ...
"Engendering" Uganda's National Export Strategy: Uganda is changing its policies and planning to bring women closer to the heart of export strategy.(TRADE TRENDS)
Jul 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While women own about 40% of private businesses in Uganda and some 30% of women in business are exporting, women's role in socio-economic development is still seen to be peripheral. Uganda has enjoyed strong annual growth in exports in recent ...