• TRADE AND INVESTMENT PUBLICATIONS
• SELECTED WORLDWIDE WEBSITES

ASEANONE: Building Negotiatives for a Single Market. (e-bulletin). PDF-Format. ASEAN.
ASEANONE is a periodic publication and available free of charge. The bulletin disseminates information and discusses issues related to economic integration in ASEAN. It is used as a means to articulate the views and opinions of a wider range of stakeholders on ASEAN integration, including private sector, technical experts, international organizations and civil society.
The first edition, 15 November 2004, includes various columns:
- Lens: What drives economic integration in ASEAN?
<http://www.aseansec.org/Lens%20-%20Myrna.pdf>
- Policy: Trade and financial integration in ASEAN: is there a link?
<http://www.aseansec.org/Policy.pdf>
- Business: How integrated is the electronics sector in ASEAN?
<http://www.aseansec.org/Business.pdf>
- Hot: ASEAN and China moving closer to Free Trade Area. Review of bilateral currency swap arrangements in full swing.
<http://www.aseansec.org/Hot.pdf>
- Numbers: Tracking the ASEAN economy
<http://www.aseansec.org/Number.pdf>
Accessed on 15 December 2004 from <http://www.aseansec.org/nov-04.htm>

E-commerce and Development Report 2004. UNCTAD/SDTE/ECB/2004/1. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 244 pages, 10 Mb). UNCTAD.
The report reviews recent trends and developments in the area of ICT, includes some aspects of ongoing international discussions such as Internet governance. It identifies areas where the application of ICT can have an impact on the performance of developing countries´ enterprises and economies. The report focuses on the use of ICT by the SMEs of developing countries and policies for development of a national ICT sector. Specific discussions on e-commerce and ICT in developing countries focusing on selected topics such as the use of digital and Internet technologies in the creative industries, in particular in the music industry, and their application to higher online learning are included. The report also looks at government e-commerce applications in e-procurement, the legal issues, challenges of data privacy and its role as a trust-building mechanism for information society development.
Accessed on 16 December 2004 from <http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ecdr2004_en.pdf>

Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard in International Investment Law. OECD Working Papers on International Investment No. 2004/3. September 2004. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 40 pages, 249 Kb). OECD.
The paper provides factual elements of information on jurisprudence, literature and state practice related to the fair and equitable treatment standard. It examines the origins of the standard and its use in international agreements and state practice, its relationship with the minimum standard of international customary law and the elements of its normative content as identified by arbitral tribunals.
Accessed on 15 December 2004 from <http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/22/53/33776498.pdf>

Great Expectations: Cross-Border Natural Gas Trade in APEC Economies. APEC#204-RE-01.6. November 2004. Available on-line (PDF Format, 132 pages, 732 Kb). APEC.
Natural gas is not a commodity like oil. Best practice in cross-border natural gas trade must therefore recognize the importance of the “soft infrastructure” of global policies, politics, norms, customs and trust. It is recommended that best practice in cross-border natural gas trade in APEC economies should be approached at three complementary levels:
- Best practice at the international level calls for the establishment of a flexible, collaborative forum in which all key stakeholders may be engaged;
- Best practice at the individual economy level requires investments to be facilitated in exporting and importing economies, and “industry vision” to be devised, markets to be created and regulatory reform to be implemented in importing economies; and
- Best practice at the individual project level requires a “total package project management” approach.
Accessed on 17 December 2004 from <http://www.apecsec.org.sg/naturalgas.pdf>

Intellectual Property and Development: Lessons from Recent Economic Research. January 2005. 360 pages. For sale. Price: US$25.00. World Bank.
Rules on how to protect patents, copyright, trademarks and other forms of intellectual property becomes a standard component of international trade agreements. The book brings together empirical research that assesses the effects of changing intellectual property regimes on various measures of economic and social performance, ranging from international trade, foreign investment and competition to innovation and access to new technologies. The studies present the important development dimension to the protection of intellectual property.
Accessed on 14 December 2004 from
<http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=3607026>

International Trade in GMOs: Legal Frameworks and Developing Country Concerns. November 2004. (UNCTAD/DITC/TNCD/2004/1). Available on-line (PDF-Format, 19 Pages, 193 Kb). UNCTAD.
The proliferation of domestic biosafety schemes is likely to further complicate international trade in agro-biotechnology products and indirectly affect international trade in conventional agricultural products. At the multilateral trade level, rules on transboundary movement of GMOs have been agreed upon in a specific legal instrument, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which recently entered into force. The interaction between this instrument and WTO rules might lead to international trade disputes. Developing countries must balance their trade interests with their responsibility to improve the quantity and quality of agricultural and food products made available to the population, as well as with their commitment to environmental preservation.
Accessed on 15 December 2004 from <http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ditctncd20041_en.pdf>

Looking beyond Averages in the Trade and Poverty Debate. World Bank Working Paper No. 3461. November 2004. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 39 pages, 352 Kb). World Bank..
There has been much debate about how much poor people in developing countries gain from trade openness, as one aspect of “globalization.” Ravallion, the author, views the issue through both “macro” and “micro” empirical lenses. The macro lens uses cross-country comparisons and aggregate time series data. The micro lens uses household-level data combined with structural modeling of the impacts of specific trade reforms. The author presents case studies for China and Morocco and the relationship between trade and poverty.
Accessed on 17 December 2004 from <http://econ.worldbank.org/files/40221_wps3461.pdf>

Protecting and Promoting Traditional Knowledge Systems, National Experiences and International Dimensions. UNCTAD/DITC/TED/10. October 2004. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 420 pages, 2.5 Mb). UNCTAD.
The preservation, protection and promotion of the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of local and indigenous communities (TK) is of key importance, particularly for developing counties. Their rich endowment of TK and biodiversity plays a critical role in their health care, food security, culture, religion, identity, environment, sustainable development and trade. This book contains a collection of 46 papers prepared in conjunction with an UNCTAD Expert Meeting. The papers address three key issues:
- What is the role of TK, particularly in the health care and agriculture sectors?
- Why and how should TK be protected?
- How can TK best be harnessed for development and trade?
Accessed on 16 December 2004 from <http://www.unctad.org/en/docs//ditcted10_en.pdf>

Trade, Debt and Finance Nexus: at the Cross-roads of Micro and Macroeconomics. WTO Discussion Paper No.6. 2004. Available on-line (PDF Format, 37 pages, 304 Kb), WTO.
The paper provides some clarification of the multi-faceted and complex relationship among trade, debt and finance and how WTO is part of a national and international effort to address some of the challenges raised by these relationships. It reviews some of the theoretical links and existing literature on the subject, and analyses practical steps and priorities that are directly addressed in the newly established Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance of the WTO. Finally, it addresses the issue of coherence in the work of international organizations on some of the links highlighted in the first section.
Accessed on 15 December 2004 from <http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/discussion_papers6_e.pdf>

http://www.mdb-egp.org/data/default.asp
Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP)
This website is jointly sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and the World Bank. It was officially launched on 11 November 2004. All three banks have been harmonizing their approach to the application of technology to public procurement in three major areas: policy and guidelines, country-based work, and operational procurement. They increasingly use electronic systems to improve the quality of their procurement workflow and communication with the client-countries, of their corporate procurement, and of the procurement monitoring and reporting activities.
Accessed on 17 December 2004.

http://r0.unctad.org/infocomm/anglais/introden.htm
INFOCOMM Project: Market Information in the Commodities Area
INFOCOMM project, funded by the Government of France, promotes market transparency, improves the understanding of commodity structures and accesses for commodity production, marketing, processing and financing. The main goals of the project:
- Development of an international electronic portal (www.unctad.org/infocomm), in which more than 40 commodity profiles containing practical and added-value information on market structures and innovations;
- Establishment of partnership agreements with international commodity bodies, study groups, civil society and universities in the dissemination of commodity trade information;
- Establishment of a focal point providing overview of selected emerging commodity exchanges;
- Creation of a dedicated window making available on-line information related to activities carried out by the Project ‘P’, including agenda of workshops, studies, participants, etc;
- Publication of the ‘World Commodity Survey’ and CD-ROM on cocoa market structures.
Accessed on 17 December 2004.

http://www.mcci.org
Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Email: mcci@intnet.mu
Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a non-profit institution representing private sectors in the country.
Functions:
- Promote trade in goods and services and enhance economic and social development;
- Encourage and facilitate interaction of its members with public authorities in Mauritius and business organizations abroad, including international organizations;
- Collect, analyse and disseminate trade-related information;
- Encourage investment, productivity and improvements in technology in the country;
- Organize training activities in the fields of information technology and international trade;
Accessed on 20 December 2004.

http://www.ncti-india.com
National Centre for Trade Information (Trade Point India, New Delhi)
Email: ncti@nda.vsnl.net.in
National Centre for Trade Information was set up in 1995 under Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Trade Point Programme of UNCTAD has certified NCTI as an Operational Trade Point in New Delhi. Besides using technology for trade for the collection and dissemination of trade information, NCTI also establishes linkages in India and abroad, organizes training in the areas of trade, commerce and provides inputs to the Government in strategic trade promotion.
Accessed on 16 December 2004.

http://www.trademinister.gov.au/releases/2004/mvt098_04.html
New Website Assists Australian Exporters to Thailand
Email: mark.vaile.mp@aph.gov.au
Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) that comes into force on 1 January 2005, will eliminate more than half of Thailand 5,000 tariffs accounting for nearly 80 per cent of Australian exports. By 2010, 95 per cent of all current trade between Australia and Thailand will be tariff free. The website offers exporters a one-stop-shop, bringing together all necessary information and export documentation. Exporters need to register with the Australian Industry Group or the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as an exporter of particular goods to Thailand and to fill out a 'certificate of origin' for each shipment they plan to export. A five step guide for Australian exporters can be found at: <http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/aust-thai/step_by_step.html>
Accessed on 20 December 2004.

http://www.pitic.org.au
Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission (Australia)
Email: info@pitic.org.au
PITIC (Australia) is one of four overseas agencies of the Suva-based Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The other three offices are located in China, Japan, New Zealand. It works closely with a network of agencies in the 14 Pacific Island Forum member countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. PITIC provides market and industrial information to the investors and importers, and advice on the costs of establishing operations in each Pacific Island country.
Accessed on 17 December 2004.

http://www.samoachamber.com/about.htm
SAMOA Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Email: info@samoachamber.com
SAMOA Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an association of businesses, corporations and business people representing in the private sector business community in Samoa (formerly Western Samoa).
Primary objectives of the chamber:
- Promotion of social contact amongst those interested in the private sector community;
- Collection and dissemination of information on related matters;
- Removal of the conflicts in connection with commerce and industry and the settlement by arbitration of disputes;
- Establishment of good relationship between employers and employees within the private sector.
Accessed on 14 December 2004.

http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=2921&lang=1
UNCTAD’s Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development
Email: statfdi@unctad.org
The Division compiles comprehensive data and other information on flows and stock of foreign direct investment (FDI), operations of transnational corporations (TNCs), investment treaties and methodologies of FDI of all countries worldwide since 1990. The most frequently used data are available free of charge. This site provides two main platforms to access the data. The first is country/economy based, and the second is interactive. The FDI statistics section provides seven separate domains: country/economy-based data, interactive data, FDI/TNC database, cross-border mergers and acquisitions database, largest TNCS database, investment treaty database, FDI performance and potential indices.
Accessed on 16 December 2004

http://www.investinvanuatu.com/vipa/vipa.htm
Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA)
Email: investment@vanuatu.com.vu
Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority’s primary role is to promote foreign direct investment into Vanuatu, to provide services and advice on investment opportunities, incentives and investment procedures in Vanuatu. VIPA also facilitates business expansions and provides investors with work permits, residence permits, business licences and other government approvals.
Accessed on 15 December 2004.

Information is taken mainly from secondary sources and UNESCAP accepts no responsibility for its accuracy. Mention of any companies and their products does not imply endorsement by the United Nations.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.