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© Pulse Iinvestments Limited |
When Ethics Meet Fashion
The world of fashion has a world of market opportunities. At a time when industries are consolidating and high-volume, low-cost manufacturing is a competitive driver, one new alternative is emerging. “Ethical fashion,” including the luxury segment, is on the rise. Several stories in this issue reflect this new trend. We looked at four ITC projects, included in this issue as part of our “Portraits of Trade Development” series. We then stepped back to see what they had in common. All four stories reminded us of trends related to fair trade or non-governmental organizations reported in our previous issue. Three of the stories are from least developed countries. Three are linked to fashion.
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© Event Fotografen/R. Hausmann Patricia Francis addresses ITC’s Executive Forum
in Berlin in September 2006.
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Doha,What Next?
By Patricia Francis, Executive Director, ITC
The business community needs to show the power of partnership in making the Doha promise a reality. Businesses of developing countries have an interest in staying engaged and making their views known to government negotiators – and to the public at large.
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© OECD/D. Mordzinski |
Doha, The Low Hanging Fruit
By Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, OECD
Finishing the Doha trade round is the simplest way to boost the global economy and benefit the developing world. But it will take bold, enlightened leaders in developed and developing countries to do so.
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Trade Talks in the News
WTO members suspended the Doha round of trade talks in July 2006. Trade Forum reviewed 50 media sources for their reactions. Most opinion-makers were seriously concerned about the future of world trade. There were also those who welcomed the breakdown in negotiations. Many voices called for restarting the talks, but few provided concrete solutions on how to do so.
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© ITC/ S. Betemps |
Buy in Africa, Sustain Local Communities
By Christopher Simpson
A Côte d’Ivoire food company’s contracts with aid agencies has provided jobs and income for local communities. ITC’s buyer-seller meetings for the aid sector played a part.
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© Pulse Investments Limited |
Why is the United Nations Working in Fashion?
By Natalie Domeisen, ITC
The glossy world of fashion is far removed from blue helmets, food aid or peace treaties — but it is also part of the United Nations’ work to ensure the world’s people have better, safer lives.
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© W. Schroeder Sri Lanka is looking for new export markets in Europe. An ITC–European Union project is helping Sri Lankan jewellery businesses to upgrade their capabilities to find the latest designs, meet different technical standards and sell to new buyers. |
Sri Lanka Has Designs on New Markets for Jewellery
By Trade Forum editorial team
Artisans in Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery sector are designing new products that reflect the latest trends. Their collections are making inroads in competitive European markets.
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© A. Fiorente Could this bag, combining beauty and ethics, be the next fashion must-have? Big retailers and the press in fashion capitals think it’s a possibility. |
Fashion Radar Picks Up Ethiopian Leather
By Trade Forum editorial team
A fair-trade luxury label shows Ethiopia’s export capacity in finished leather goods.
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© ITC/M. Stefanovic Chic wooden bracelets made by the Mozambican cooperative.
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In Mozambique, Communities Use Wood, Save Trees
By Trade Forum editorial team
Mozambique has been losing its forests to poor people who scrape a living from this valuable natural resource. Today, some are producing chic wooden bracelets for the world market while conserving precious woodlands.
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Aid for Trade — ITC’s Response
With billions of dollars at stake, Aid for Trade can be a shot in the arm for developing countries. When defining the scope, pay attention to the supply side, say ITC and its clients.
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“Enhanced Integrated Framework” Serves as Model for Aid for Trade
The Integrated Framework (IF) is an international initiative through which the International Monetary Fund, ITC, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank and World Trade Organization combine their efforts with those of least developed countries (LDCs) and donors to respond to the trade development needs of LDCs.
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Romania Focuses on Exports as EU Accession Nears
By ITC staff
Romanians are taking major steps to upgrade exports, with help from ITC. Faced with the challenges of its entry into the European Union (EU), Romania is keen to improve its export competitiveness in four sectors of strategic importance for the country’s economy: textiles and garments; wooden furniture; information and communications technology (ICT); and organic agriculture.
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Increased media coverage helps raise awareness about services and the needs of service exporters. |
Uncovering Services Trade Opportunities
By ITC Trade in Services Section staff
ITC is helping to keep services in the spotlight.
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© D. Girard Team Ethiopia prepares the implementation strategy of the ACCESS! programme. |
African Businesswomen Get Access to Trade
Women entrepreneurs benefit from targeted assistance to expand their businesses internationally through this award-winning programme.
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© ITC/M. Stefanovic |
New Director of Trade Support Services
Aicha A. Pouye, a Senegalese national, joined ITC as the Director of the Division of Trade Support Services in September 2006.
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© ITC/M. Stefanovic |
New Director of Product and Market Development
Friedrich von Kirchbach, a German national, becomes Director of the Division of Product and Market Development in November 2006.
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New e@Work Newsletter
A new online newsletter from ITC provides trends, reports and articles for small firms about how they can put “e” — information and communications technology — to work. Published quarterly, the e@Work Newsletter helps small firms from developing and transition economies to compete in the digital economy.
For more information, see contact details below.
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International Trade Bulletins
ITC produces a variety of international trade bulletins which complement its books and technical papers. To subscribe, contact the relevant sections of ITC.
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New Books and Technical Papers
ISO 9001:2000 — A workbook for service organizations116 pages. Joint ITC/International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publication, presenting a set of questions, checklists and planning guides for streamlining the internal process of conformities to ISO 9001:2000 standard by professional ser-vice organizations in developing countries. Provides an overview of ISO 9001:2000 as an international quality management framework and focuses on internal decisions, discussions and planning needed in applying the ISO 9001:2000 concept and for creating the necessary quality management system in a small service organization. Appendices include a list of information sources on ISO quality management systems, tips for working with external consultants, a sample internal audit checklist for a “vertical” audit and sample questions to help staff prepare for an on-site external audit. To order online, visit ITC's e-shop at http://www.intracen.org/eshop
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ITC News
Trade development trends and ITC projects in this edition include:
- ITC's view on Aid for Trade, and how the Integrated Framework could serve as a model for the future.
- How Romania is improving exports, to help it adjust to its new position in the European Union.
- An award-winning project to help African businesswomen access international markets.
- Examples of ITC's efforts to raise awareness about export opportunities in trade in services.
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What After Doha?
- Discover why ITC's Executive Director, Patricia Francis, believes that more input from business community is crucial for making the Doha development promise a reality.
- Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of OECD, explains the benefits of a successful conclusion of the Doha agenda, and the need for enlightened leadership.
- A review of 50 media sources mostly showed concern over the 2006 suspension of trade talks.
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