• TRADE AND INVESTMENT PUBLICATIONS
• SELECTED WORLDWIDE WEBSITES

Agriculture Investment Sourcebook. January 2005. For Sale. Price: US$ 60.00. 530 pages. World Bank.
This publication addresses how to implement the rural strategy to promote agricultural growth and poverty reduction, by sharing information on investment options and identifying innovative approaches that will aid the design of future lending programs for agriculture. It provides generic good practices and many examples that demonstrate investment in agriculture can provide rewarding and sustainable returns to development efforts.
Access on 18 February 2005 from
<http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=4535921>

Biotech Crop Research in Developing Countries: Poorer nations turn to publicly developed GM crops. Nature Biotechnology, Volume 23, No. 1. January 2005. Available on-line (PDF-Format, pp. 27-33, 462 Kb). International Food Policy Research Institute.
The study documents biotech research on 45 different crops, including cotton, corn, cacao and cassava. The majority of this research focuses on improving resistance to diseases and pests which can devastate yields for farmers in poor countries. However, most of the research is currently being developed in laboratory, greenhouse, or confined field trials. Very little is currently available for use by farmers. The study recommends an increase in small-scale, confined field trials to test crops and receive feedback from farmers. It also stresses the need for improved information sharing among developing countries.
Access on 7 February 2005 from
<http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/articles/2005/naturebiotech.pdf>

Credit Bureau Development in South Asia. 2004. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 65 pages). World Bank.
Based on a workshop focused on promoting the development of credit information systems in the region, this publication covers various topics the legal, regulatory, and information technology needed to support a credit information sharing bureau and the current and potential sharing of credit information in the region.
Access on 10 February 2005 from
<http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTSOUTHASIA/Resources/>

Customs Modernization Handbook. January 2005. 325 pages. For sale. Price: US$45. World Bank.
This publication provides an overview of the key elements of a successful customs modernization strategy and draws lessons from a number of successful customs reforms as well as from customs reform projects that have been undertaken by the World Bank. It describes a number of key import procedures, that have proved particularly troublesome for customs administrations and traders, and provides practical guidelines to enhance their efficiency. The Handbook also reviews the appropriate legal framework for customs operations as well as strategies to combat corruption.
Access on 16 February 2005from <http://www.worldbankinfoshop.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=3077227>

Directory of China's Major Importers and Exporters. February 2005. Business Data International Inc.
The Directory of China's Major Importers and Exporters is an English-Chinese bilingual edition directory that contains 21,000 China's major importers and exporters. It gives up-to-date information on the company name, address, postcode, telephone and fax numbers, websites and email addresses, contact person, number of employees, year of establishment, import commodities and value, countries dealing with, type of ownership, etc. It runs for windows on IBM- PCs, and it is searchable by the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (H.S. Code), commodity name, the countries dealing with, key words and locations.

The two-volume hardcopy directory with a CD-Rom is available from: Business Data International Inc., P. O. Box 28547, 5100 Verdun Ave., Montreal, QC H4G 3L7, Canada. Fax: (514) 221-3281, info@businessdataint.com.
Access on 8 February 2005 from <www.businessdataint.com>

Economic Development and UN Reform: Towards a common agenda for action. A proposal in the context of the millennium development goals. 2004. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 194 pages, 1.3 Mb). UNIDO.
This book is a practical proposal to increase the policy coherence and operational effectiveness of the United Nations system in the field of economic development. The proposal is based on the experience gained during several years of work at the helm of one of the specialized agencies of the UN. Its core aim is to reorganize the economic development functions of the system by agreeing on a common business plan structured around shared programmatic priorities.
Access on 8 February 2005 from <http://www.unido.org/file-storage/download/?file_id=33185>

The Future of State-Owned Financial Institutions. January 2005. 382 pages. For sale. Price: US$ 39,95. Development Gateway.
Research suggests that if the majority of a country’s financial institutions are owned by the state, that country will experience slower financial development, less efficient financial systems, less private sector credit, and slower GDP growth. Yet more than 40 per cent of the world’s population live in countries in which public sector institutions dominate the banking system. In this publication, noted experts discuss the challenges presented by state-owned financial institutions and offer cross-disciplinary solutions for policymakers and banking regulators. Included are case studies exploring varying methods of privatization, such as initial public offerings, employee stock ownership plans and strategic investors.
Accessed on 24 February 2005 from
http://www.worldbankinfoshop.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=4684071

India: Financing Highways. 2004. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 207 pages, 987 Kb). World Bank India.
The report reviews the economic principles for establishing efficient and equitable road user charges (road pricing), and examines the potential mechanisms for charging road users.
• Charts (10 pages, 220 Kb), direct link
• Tables (45 pages, 148 Kb), direct link
• Reports
- Highway Sector Financing in India - Policy Notes (13 pages, 63 Kb), direct link
- Highway Sector Financing in India - Volume I (36 pages, 134 Kb), direct link
- Highway Sector Financing in India - Volume II (103 pages, 422 Kb), direct link
Access on 10 February 2005 from <http://www.highwayfinindia.org/download/index.htm#reports>

Macroeconomic policies: new issues of interdependence. January 2005. Working Paper no. 24. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 40 pages). OECD Development Centre.
This paper discusses three novel macroeconomic policy challenges: the macroeconomic implications of China’s emergence; the implications of intensifying financial integration; and the interaction of Asia’s foreign exchange regime with monetary policy in the OECD area.
Access on 22 February 2005 from <http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/15/14/34322482.pdf>

Regional perspectives on Sustainable Livelihoods and Business. February 2005. Available on-line (PDF-Format, 20 pages, 327 Kb). World Business Council Sustainable Development.
This publication presents features and findings obtained in a series of regional dialogues on sustainable livelihoods. Organized in cooperation with the Regional Network and member companies based in Africa, Asia and Latin America, the dialogues put special emphasis on taking into account different cultural and socio-economic contexts when doing business with the poor.
Access on 11 February 2005 from
< http://www.wbcsd.org/web/publications/sl-regional-dialogues_080205.pdf >

State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2004. To be published in March 2005. For sale. Price: US$ 10.00. World Bank.
The publication examines the status of the emerging market for greenhouse gases emissions allowances and greenhouse gases emission reduction projects - the so-called ‘carbon market’. Based on a database of 354 transactions, this study shows that the market has been growing steadily over the past years, with demand still heavily concentrated and supply shifting from Latin America to Asia. It also explores the determinants of the price of carbon, showing that, in the absence of a standard contract for the purchase of emission reductions, the structure of the transaction has a strong impact on the price.
Access on 16 February 2005 from:
<http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=4600134>

http://www.bilaterals.org/
Bilaterals.org
The web site offers information on bilateral and other trade agreements all over the world. It includes news and analysis on negotiations, key issues, discussion fora and relevant links.
Accessed on 18 February 2005

http://www.business.gov.hk/bep/opencms/release/eng/index.html
Business Entry Portal
This portal acts as a one-stop access to business information provided by public and private sectors. The Portal aims to provide a user-friendly interface to facilitate the business community the search of relevant information; reduce business cost by allowing one-stop access to a wide range of public web sites; increase the usage of existing business-related web sites offered by the Government of Hong Kong, China and other public bodies; and open up opportunities for access to private sector business information.
Accessed on 22 February 2005

http://www.ec.cn/english/index.jsp
China International Electronic Commerce Network, Ministry of Commerce
Email: postbox@ec.com.cn
The page provides access to China’s global trade news, including Central and Regional Governmental affairs concerning trade promotion, trade laws, macro-economy and relation with its territories. Reports concerning trade facts, research, bank data, statistics, as well as details about trade exhibitions and fairs are also available from the website.
Accessed on 17 February 2005

http://www.cer.uz/index.php?start
Center for Economic Research, Uzbekistan
Email: info@cer.uz
Center for Economic Research (CER) is an independent non-profit research institution established in April 1999 with assistance from the United Nations Development Program. The Center aims at providing policy advice to the Government of Uzbekistan and conducting research for other development institutions on key development issues; contributing to the national capacity building and raising public awareness of socio-economic issues.
Accessed on 21 February 2005

http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?nu=1&lng=1
Central Asian Gateway
Email: cagateway@cer.uz
Central Asian Gateway Internet website is dedicated to issues of socio-economic development in Central Asian states. It promotes regional integration, constructive dialogues, and the transfer of information, knowledge and achievements aimed at development. Central Asian Gateway portal was developed for various users: private sector, governments, international technical assistance agencies and other organizations, as well as civil society and academia. Central Asian Gateway project is implemented by the CER Uzbekistan Development Gateway Project (UzDG) component.
Accessed on 22 February 2005

http://www.delkhm.cec.eu.int/en/index.htm
European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Cambodia
Email: delegation-cambodia@delkhm.cec.eu.int
The European Union's instruments of co-operation with third countries also include trade co-operation, which aims at improving market access on a preferential basis. The web offers relevant information and contacts to assist Cambodia in improving the structures and means to access the EU market.
Accessed on 18 February 2005

http://www.eetimes.com/
Industry Sources for Engineer and Technical Manager Worldwide
The website is a weekly electronic industry newspaper, which provides updated technology and business information. It offers technical analysis and opinion, as well as industry, technology and business news.
Accessed on 21 February 2005

http://sigl.cec.eu.int/
Integrated System of License Management, EU Directorate General for Trade
Email: website@sigl.cec.eu.int
The website provides information on quota levels for imports of clothing and steel products applied in the European Community. The information on this website is provided to allow all interested persons to see the results of the Commissions management of the quotas at any given point in time.
Accessed on 16 February 2005

http://www.fashion.tid.gov.hk/eindex_swf.html
Fashion Industry Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Trade and Industry Department
Email: irc@isd.gov.hk
Fashion Industry in Hong Kong is the website established by Trade and Industry Department of the Government of the Hong Kong, China to provide relevant information about Hong Hong’s textile industry from various sources and markets.
Accessed on 21 February 2005

http://www.ecom.jp/ecom_e/index.html
Japan Electronic Commerce Promotion Council (ECOM)
ECOM aims to facilitate close cooperation in promoting electronic commerce and standardization such as XML/EDI and STEP (standards concerning expression and exchange of product model data). It makes rules and recommendations to the government to achieve secure E-commerce in both B2B and B2C. It also establishes, maintains, and manages international standards based on user needs, and conducts activities to further promote electronic commerce and make international contributions in this field.
Accessed on 24 February 2005

http://www.safir.teri.res.in/index.asp
South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulation
SAFIR is designed to assist in the building of regulatory capacity in the electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, water, transport and other sectors. SAFIR aims to stimulate research and provide capacity building and training on infrastructure regulation, and related topics in South Asia. The web offers details on training programmes, access to research work, a directory of contact details in the region, a service for regulatory feedback, as well as compilation of websites related to various infrastructure sectors.

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.