• TRADE AND INVESTMENT PUBLICATIONS
• SELECTED WORLDWIDE WEBSITES

Business against Corruption: Case Stories and Examples. 2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 183 pages, 2.76 Mb). The Global Compact Office/UNODC.
This publication showcases more than twenty-five examples from business and civil society, giving guidance on how to deal with difficult dilemma situations when implementing anti-corruption matters, the Global Compact’s 10th principle. Among the issues addressed in this compendium are the implications of the UN Convention against Corruption; the correlation between corruption, development and governance; the implementation of anti-bribery programmes; selection criteria for agents and consultants; how to handle facilitation payments and gifts; corruption in partnership projects; whistle-blowing and external reporting on corruption; collective action against corruption; and engaging in national and regional initiatives against corruption.
Accessed on 10 May 2006 from
< http://www.globalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/7.7/BACbookFINAL.pdf >

East Asia Update - Solid Growth, New Challenges. March 2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 78 pages, 1.14 Mb). World Bank.
The report gives an overview over the latest economic developments in East Asia and highlights that East Asia’s economies delivered a solid performance in 2005, now surpassing Europe as the region most open for trade in the world. It provides country reports on Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. The report's special focus lies on climate change and its challenges and opportunities for East Asia. It states that the region is already among the most vulnerable to natural disasters, whose intensity could be affected by climate change. While the region is still largely rural, most of the gross domestic product and large cities, are coastal and at risk from rising sea levels and weather-related disasters; some Pacific Island nations could even disappear. The report stipulates that countries urgently need to take steps to strengthen their disaster preparedness and to climate-proof construction and development.
Accessed on 4 April 2006 from
<http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEAPHALFYEARLYUPDATE/Resources/550192-1143237132157/eapupdate-final-March06.pdf >

Elements for the Architecture of Aid for Trade. April 2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 22 pages, 240 KB). The South Centre.
This paper argues that the Aid for Trade initiative is important to mitigate trade-induced adjustment costs and to bolster supply-side capacity in developing countries. However, it postulates that aid is only second-best to balanced, fair and equitable trading rules. Therefore, in order to be supportive to development, the architecture of the Aid for Trade initiative should have strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms such that the expansion of aid will be based on new and sufficient fund, available on long-term and predictable bases; the expansion of aid will not be linked or made conditional to developing countries’ positions in the multilateral trade negotiations or domestic development policy priorities; the scope of the Aid for Trade initiative will encompass both trade-induced adjustment costs and supply-side capacity building; there will be easy and quick resource disbursement mechanisms that avoid unduly complex and lengthy procedural and technical requirements; and aid-recipient countries, rather than donors, will have the prerogative to decide the sectors or activities that the aid resources should go to.
Accessed on 25 May 2006 from
< http://www.southcentre.org/tadp_webpage/Analysis/AidforTrade.pdf >

Franchising Opportunities in China, Japan and Singapore. April 2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 313 pages, 1.59 Mb). APEC.
This study explores franchising opportunities in China, Japan and Singapore. The main aims of the study are to help balance APEC’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to understand the benefits of systems based on franchising; explore possible best practice models; and compare codes of conduct governing franchises in China, Japan and Singapore. The study focuses on assisting enterprises venturing into the food and beverage business, highlighting best practices for enterprises; and facilitating the understanding of the intellectual property right of the franchises in the target market.
Accessed on 28 April 2006 from
< http://www.apec.org/apec/publications.MedialibDownload.v1.html? >

OPEC Long Term Strategy. March 2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 32 Pages, 1,775 Kb). OPEC.
This strategy provides a vision and framework for the future of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It recognizes the important role of oil in the world economy at large and for the socio-economic development of OPEC member countries in particular. The strategy defines specific objectives and identifies the key challenges the organization faces now and in the future.
Accessed on 9 May 2006 from
< http://www.opec.org/library/Special%20Publications/pdf/OPECLTS.pdf >

Papua New Guinea Trade Policy Framework. April 2006. Available online (PDF-Format, 99 pages, 594 kb). UNCTAD.
This publication discusses Papua New Guinea’s trade policy framework that was introduced by the Government which formed after the national elections 2002. The new Government initiated reforms with the broad objectives of stability, unity and empowerment; highlighting an export-driven economic recovery strategy as a key element of the reforms. The publication starts with a review of the country’s economic and trade performance with a view to capturing the major directions of reform. It then reviews trade policy settings and environment for Papua New Guinea, particularly in terms of domestic policies and external market access conditions. It seeks to identify an agenda for trade policy reform for Papua New Guinea and the key policy objectives and institutions for determining, formulating and implementing the country’s trade policy. The publication concludes with preliminary recommendations regarding domestic supply-side policies, including supply capacity building, as well as improved market access conditions for Papua New Guinea exports to the country’s major markets.
Accessed on 17 May 2006 from < http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ditctncd200310_en.pdf >

Power in Global Value Chains: Implications for employment and livelihoods in the cashew nut industry in India. March 2006. (PDF-Format, 39 Pages, 615 Kb). International Institute for Environment and Development.
This report explores the impacts of an expanding global market for cashew nuts on the livelihoods of women workers in the cashew processing industry in India. It shows that a power imbalance between intensely competing producers and relatively few buyers in the global market place gives large retailers, namely the supermarkets, the upper hand over their supply chains. It argues that supermarkets are increasingly able to dictate the terms on which business is done and how the cashew is produced, as well as to capture most of the revenue generated along the value chain. The survey of the women workers who process the cashew nuts shows clearly that such work, while essential for survival, does not provide enough income to raise households out of poverty and that the increasing informalization of employment in the sector creates insecure and hazardous working conditions. The authors argue that this research is a good example of how international trade too often fails to provide the kind of economic growth which will foster secure and equitable employment and enable the working poor to escape from poverty.
Accessed on 9 May 2006 from < http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/14514IIED.pdf >

Russia’s Accession to the World Trade Organization: Fact-Finding Analysis on Mongolian-Russian Non-Tariff Barriers and Standards in Trade. December 2005. Available online (PDF-Format, 38 pages, 376 Kb). Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and Export-oriented Industrial and Trade Policy Project, Mongolia.
The accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) commenced in 1995; the country is currently negotiating with WTO member countries. In October 1999, Mongolia has started official negotiations with the Russian Federation and has since concluded seven consultative meetings. This report studies and assesses the resulting impact on Mongolia’s exports by examining the Russian trade regimes and its extensive use of non-tariff barriers and regulations imposed on imports from Mongolia. The report provides data and recommendations in formulating a sound trade negotiation strategy in the context of the Russian Federation’s accession to the WTO and of the conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Accessed on 28 April 2006 from < http://www.trade-policy.mn/eng/pdf/study-12.pdf >

http://www.epzbangladesh.org.bd/index.php
Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA)
E-mail: chairman@bepza.org
The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority is the official organ of the Government to promote, attract and facilitate foreign investment in the export processing zones (EPZ). The primary objective of EPZs is to provide special areas where potential investors can find a congenial investment climate, free from cumbersome procedures. The website provides information of all six EPZs in Bangladesh with details on facilities, eligible investors, investment guarantees, and incentives such as duty free import and export, relief from double taxation, exemption from dividend tax, etc.
Accessed on 4 April 2006

http://eng.tpprf.ru
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (RF CCI)
E-Mail: tpprf@tpprf.ru
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation represents the private sector interests when relating with the Government; works towards creating necessary conditions for the development and strengthening of a socially-oriented market economy; and assists in the creation of a legal framework for, and infrastructure of, entrepreneurship. Other key areas of RF CCI activity are to overcome administrative barriers; to remove counterfeit and poor-quality products from the Russian market; and to foster corporate responsibility. RF CCI hosts the Business Information and Consultations Center which offers services using its own research and information potential, as well as that of regional chambers of commerce and industry, the RF CCI representation offices abroad and partner organizations.
Accessed on 15 May 2006

http://www.common-fund.org/
Common Fund for Commodities
E-mail: managing.director@common-fund.org
The Common Fund for Commodities is an inter-governmental financial institution established within the framework of the United Nations. The fund’s specific mandate is to support developing countries that are commodity-dependent to improve and diversify commodities production and trade. Fund projects typically have a market development and poverty alleviation orientation; and through a variety of project-based initiatives, the Fund places a high premium on development of commodities-based economies upon which the producers and exporters depend for their livelihoods.

http://www.iprsonline.org/
IPRSonline.org
E-mail: jvonbraun@ictsd.ch
IPRsonline.org is an internet portal on intellectual property rights (IPRs) and sustainable development. It contains a selection of relevant online documents and resources, including a guide to IPRs, proposals submitted to the WTO, discussion papers classified by topics, a calendar of IPRs related events, latest news on IPRs, and links to concerned organization and relevant institutions working on IPRs. The website is maintained by Information Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICSTD) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Accessed on 8 May 2006

http://www.jodidata.org
Joint Oil Data Initiative (JODI)
E-mail: jodinfo@iefs.org.sa
The Joint Oil Data Initiative provides monthly statistics of seven petroleum products, namely crude oil, liquid purified gas, gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil and total oil with information on production, demand, closing stock levels and changes. The initiative is a cooperation between the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Eurostat, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the United Nations Statistic Division (UNSD), and aims at raising the awareness of the need for more transparency in oil market data and at improving statistical systems in participating countries.
Accessed on 9 May 2006

http://www.nbr.org/
National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)
E-mail: nbr@nbr.org
The National Bureau of Asian Research is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution based in the United States of America, dedicated to informing and strengthening policy in Asia and Pacific. The NBR conducts independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health and energy issues affecting relations of the United States with Asia. It disseminates its research through briefings, publications, conferences, congressional testimonies and email forums and by collaborating with various institutions worldwide.
Accessed on 3 April 2006

http://www.pic.or.jp/en/index.htm
Pacific Islands Centre (PIC)
E-mail: info@pic.or.jp
The Pacific Island Centre is an international organization established by Japan and the South Pacific Forum to help the Forum Island Countries (FICs) achieve sustainable economic development through the promotion of trade, investment and tourism between the FICs and Japan. The website offers country information on Cook Island, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; trade statistics for these countries; a trade directory; links to governmental agencies and related institutions; etc.

http://www.octs.org.hk/e_index.htm
One Country Two Systems Research Institute
E-mail: general@octs.org.hk
The One Country Two Systems Research Institute focuses its researches on major social and economic issues of Hong Kong, China as well as the economic and cooperative relationship between Hong Kong, China and its neighbouring areas, particularly, China. The website offers information on the institute’s latest activities, news, reports as well as details on the five major research areas, namely economic, social, political, legal and cultural issues.
Accessed on 4 April 2006

http://www.silkroad.undp.org.cn/index/index.php
Silk Road Initiative (SRI)
E-mail: wojciech.hubner@undp.org
The Silk Road Initiative is a UNDP initiative in cooperation with State Governments, private sectors and civil society. The programme seeks to enhance regional cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The three inter-related focus areas trade, investment and tourism are components of the overarching goal of helping the region to meet the Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty and promoting growth and equality. The initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation and development; improve policy and legal conditions for trade; promote and facilitate public private partnerships (PPP); initiate and attract investment; and promote and attract tourism. The website offers a calendar of events; access to documents; an investment forum; trade promotion information; newsletters and more.
Accessed on 18 May 2006

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