Publications

Tourism is a key trade development sector for many LDCs – as highlighted in 45 of 48 Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies analysed for this joint UNWTO-ITC-EIF report.A must-read for the development community in this International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the report provides...

What keeps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana from being competitive in international markets is often not of their own making, such as unreliable electricity and high interest rates. This report outlines these and other findings from the SME Competitiveness Survey, which surveyed...

Through innovation, the Gambia’s young entrepreneurs can contribute significantly to the country’s growth. This is the key message emerging from Gambian firms that participated in the ITC Competitiveness Survey.The survey addressed youth recruitment and the occupational skills gap in the Gambia...

Being a women-owned company negatively affects the credibility of their business, say Indonesian women entrepreneurs in the services sector.They also need better access to patents, internet access, quality certifications, marketing opportunities and customer outreach to run a business successfully,...

Women make up almost half of Kenya’s labour force, yet they remain on the margins of business ownership – only 9% of Kenya’s firms are majority women-owned. Kenyan women entrepreneurs say they need better access to loans, business registries, patents, quality certifications and affordable...

Policymakers now have an SME-friendly toolkit to guide national reforms when implementing the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement. Addressing reforms from the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will spread benefits across the whole business community. By...

Small businesses in Saint Lucia are contributing to the country’s export growth. The findings of a new ITC Competitiveness Survey jointly conducted with the country’s Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) provides guidance on how to exploit opportunities in four key sectors: food and beverages,...

Training module providing people in the tourism sector with skills to expand opportunities for enhancing local community involvement in this sector. It provides an introduction to the tourism sector, and how it can contribute to poverty reduction; discusses potential involvement of local people and...

A largely untapped resource, Sri Lankan women have the potential to play a significant role in the country’s economy. Given the right tools and support, women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka can achieve this potential and positively affect the global economy.Using the International Trade Centre (ITC)...

Most investors seek information about local suppliers before making decisions to invest. This report uses ITC data on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) competitiveness at macro, meso and micro-level to de-risk investment decisions.Survey results show: high-tech potential among youth, with...

Training module aiming to promote local creative industries in developing countries through the tourism value chain, with a view to poverty reduction. It explains how fostering artistic and cultural activities within tourism business chains can contribute to poverty reduction in a given location or...

Digitalization and the rise of the platform economy are rapidly changing the way in which firms do business. A strong business ecosystem is necessary to manage this change. This year’s SME Competitiveness Outlook tells how to build it.The report combines data analysis, academic insights, thought...