The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the technical cooperation agency of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). ITC specializes in trade promotion for developing countries and economies in transition. ITC has its headquarters in Geneva and is headed by an executive director, J. Denis Bélisle of Canada.

ITC's mission is to develop the business sectors of developing and transition economies, in order to expand exports and improve import operations. ITC works with developing countries to set up national trade promotion programs aimed at expanding exports and improving import operations. This includes working with their government and business sectors to develop a solid framework for trade promotion and export development, finding market opportunities for export products, designing export marketing strategies and developing new products for export, improving the efficiency of import operations and techniques, and training government and business officials in foreign trade methods. In all of its activities, ITC gives particular attention to the least developed countries (LDCs).

ITC's technical assistance concentrates on the three areas where it believes the need for national capacity-building is most critical: helping businesses understand WTO rules; strengthening enterprise competitiveness; and developing new trade promotion strategies.

The ITC publishes guidebooks for government officials, traders and trade-related institutions in developing countries and economies in transition on such subjects as trade promotion techniques, international marketing, import operations, and foreign trade training, as well as studies on export opportunities and potential new markets.

The ITC was set up in 1964 by WTO's precursor the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). Since 1968 it has been operated jointly by the GATT, (and later WTO) and the United Nations - the latter acting through UNCTAD. ITC headquarters operations are financed equally by the two bodies. ITC has been designated by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as the focal point in the UN system for technical cooperation in trade promotion. The ITC is also the executing agency for trade-promotion projects financed by the UN Development Program (UNDP).

Financing for ITC's technical cooperation program in the field comes from UNDP, other intergovernmental organizations, and voluntary contributions from individual governments. At any given time, several hundred ITC project consultants may be working on various assignments.

ITC holds an annual intergovernmental meeting, the Joint Advisory Group (JAG), in Geneva to review its technical cooperation activities and make recommendations on its future work. ITC's medium-term plan covers the years 1999-2001.

As part of its market development activities ITC operates a regular Market News Service (MNS), which provides geographic, sectoral and product coverage. ITC also publishes a magazine, International Trade Forum which provides practical information on trade topics including market profiles, management tips to improve exporting skills and thematic reviews on trade issues. The magazine also provides information about ITC's books, internet site, events and other ITC activities.

Internet
www.intracen.org
Description of ITC and its services, trade statistics, selected articles on trade, and collection of links to other trade information sources.

Related U.S. government links
U.S. Trade Representative's Office
U.S. Department of Commerce

Other related Links
World Trade Organization
U.N. Conference on Trade and Development

Address
International Trade Center
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Street address: 54-56, rue de Montbrillant
Tel. 730.0111
Fax. 733.4439