Publications

This year’s report focuses on regional trade, the most common form of trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

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 guide offers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) insights on negotiation and collaboration with lead firms in international value chains. It addresses topics such as compliance with standards and regulations, contractual relationships, production and performance management, types of...

This year’s report focuses on regional trade, the most common form of trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Small firms and women-led enterprises can connect to global markets by boosting their digital capacity. This is an area where Aid for Trade can have a big impact. Evidence shows a significant connectivity gap between small and large firms, and between firms managed/owned by men or women. This...

BRICS countries – Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa – are becoming increasingly important players in the global e-commerce market. This joint report by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and ITC examines business-to-clients e-commerce markets...

Difficult customs procedures, barriers to investment, and labour regulations limiting movement and hiring of personnel are the most stringent obstacles for logistics services providers in developing countries.This study finds that policymakers need to respond to traders’ concerns by promoting...

Trade promotion and investment megatrends were the focus of the 2016 Trade Promotion Organizations Network World Conference and Awards in Marrakesh, Morocco. The report includes a summary of discussions with participants from 85 countries. They addressed trends including digital transformation,...

This first ITC e-commerce survey provides valuable insights that will allow countries to shape policies and practices that address the real business needs on the ground. To ensure that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can benefit from e-commerce, they need better access to...

Being a women-owned company negatively affects the credibility of their business, say Indonesian women entrepreneurs in the services sector.

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.

Over 90% of Bangladeshi exporters are facing regulatory and procedural obstacles to trade. A survey of 1,000 companies in Bangladesh identified long waiting times, administrative hurdles and lack of accredited laboratories in the country to be the main causes of the reported difficulties when...