Trade Forum articles address ways to build awareness of the potential of trade, from developing a national brand and working with businesses, NGOs, students and journalists to using web sites effectively, and more.

The “Aid for Trade” initiative was launched by the World Trade Organization in 2005 to help poorer countries strengthen their economies by developing their export strategies and productive capacity to allow them to export more and successfully face the challenges of globalization. The collection below features the views on Aid for Trade of some of the key players in this area, followed by success stories that show how a little help can go a long way to making businesses more competitive in the international marketplace.

The articles below can help developing countries that are considering strategies to influence trade negotiations. They make links between trade and development outcomes, outline how policymakers, business and other civil society groups can work together and analyse key issues such as trade barriers.

Poor communities can benefit from the opportunity to trade with richer markets. This collection profiles sectors with povertyreducing potential. It also examines strategic issues such as South–South trade and the roles of women entrepreneurs, big business and international organizations in reducing poverty through trade.

Successful businesswomen are often social entrepreneurs as well, helping to lift families and communities out of poverty. Yet trade and development strategists often do not know how to support them. This collection looks at the challenges women entrepreneurs face and proposes solutions and case examples

A key source of jobs and income in their own right, services from telecommunications to transportation also underpin exports of agricultural and manufactured goods. Trade strategy-makers, service providers and those who support them will find over 50 articles on trade in services in this collection.

This collection shows how exporters can put “e” to work by doing traditional business in innovative ways and finding opportunities in new information and communications technology (ICT) sectors. There are also cases for trade strategists on creating an effective national e-trade environment.

A sound legal framework for trade — including adopting major treaties and enforcing contracts — sends a signal to investors and others that countries are serious about creating a secure climate for business.

This collection covers legal aspects of international trade, how to use model contracts and advice on avoiding and managing commercial disputes.

While many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work in humanitarian relief, health or education, they also have a growing role in trade development. As trade programmes address a wider range of development issues — from women to the environment and poor communities — it makes sense to involve NGOs with expertise in these areas. These articles offer answers to how “traditional” trade development players can work with NGOs more effectively.

From eco-friendly packaging to organicallygrown food, there’s growing pressure on exporters to “go green”. These stories showcase new markets for green goods and services, and offer tips to meet environmental challenges through technological innovation, quality and service performance, and flexibility in producing goods and services.

Trade support to developing and transition economies, aimed mainly at the policy and institutional levels, is the core of ITC’s work. This Trade Forum collection includes recommendations and case studies of trade development strategies.