The value chain’s analysis includes the analysis of the policy environment, measures and key actors enabling the sector’s development and growth. In elaborating on these chains, special emphasis was placed on determining the existence of and/or practical scope for integration of complementary inputs at any point along the chain, from differing CARIFORUM member states up to and including the final stage of the chain. On this basis, this report considers the value chains using a two‐fold approach: analysis of the supply (CARIFORUM) side, and analysis of the demand (EU) side. With regards to possible business cooperation opportunities in the target EU markets, attention has been given, where possible, to the following inter alia: EU distributor or agent (including marketing and promotional activities); joint‐ventures and e‐commerce platforms ‐ both Business‐to‐Consumer (B2C) and Business‐to‐Business (B2B).

The value chain’s analysis includes the analysis of the policy environment, measures and key actors enabling the sector’s development and growth. In elaborating on these chains, special emphasis was placed on determining the existence of and/or practical scope for integration of complementary inputs at any point along the chain, from differing CARIFORUM member states up to and including the final stage of the chain. On this basis, this report considers the value chains using a two‐fold approach: analysis of the supply (CARIFORUM) side, and analysis of the demand (EU) side. With regards to possible business cooperation opportunities in the target EU markets, attention has been given, where possible, to the following inter alia: EU distributor or agent (including marketing and promotional activities); joint‐ventures and e‐commerce platforms ‐ both Business‐to‐Consumer (B2C) and Business‐to‐Business (B2B).

The Caribbean Export Development Agency carries out numerous programme-based activities designed to enhance the competitiveness of regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promote trade and development among the CARIFORUM, promote stronger trade and investment relations among CARIFORUM and the French Caribbean and Outermost Regions (FCORs) and the European Union (EU) Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Caribbean, as well as promote stronger trade and investment cooperation between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic. The 2013 annual report provides a break down of the activities for the year.

Caribbean Export’s work among regional SMEs is centred on six strategic areas: investment promotion, access to finance, export development, export promotion, business advocacy and sustainability. With each year of implementation, the Agency has seen increased participation in programme-based interventions from not only SMEs, but also from our partner agencies in private sector development, which are the business support organisations and public sector agencies across CARIFORUM. This annual report provides an overview of the activities undertaken in 2014.

During the period January-December 2015, The Caribbean Export Development Agency centred its development results within six priority areas: investment promotion, access to finance, export development, export promotion, business advocacy and institutional sustainability, and with each year of EDF implementation, Caribbean Export has seen increased engagement, and positive results from participation in programme-based interventions from SMEs, BSOs, and the public sector.  This 2015 annual report provides a synopsis of the actvities undertaken.

The Caribbean Export Development Agency’s implementation strategy is to integrate the project activities into its work plan through the Contribution Agreement now signed between the European Commission (EC) and Caribbean Export.  This is a major step forward for the relationship between the EC and Caribbean Export, since it allows the Agency to use its own procedures and rules, which have been audited and approved by the EC.  The Annual Report 2008 continues to focus on the work undertaken and the results achieved within its four broad objectives, during the year. The body of the report is preceded by our Vision and Mission statements and is followed by a short section looking ahead to 2009.

In 2012 Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) took the decision to focus programme implementation around seven key zones, which reflect the Agency’s approach to regional development, namely investment  promotion, access to finance, research and market intelligence, trade agreements: advocacy and awareness, export promotion and development, fostering partnerships, and Caribbean Export’s capacity building. This Annual Report outlines the activities undertaken within each zone.

This Doing Business Guide is a publication of the Dominican Republic law firm Pellerano & Herrera. It has been prepared for those interested in investing in the Dominican Republic and provides information about the country, the laws that regulate its economy and society, and the Dominican investment climate. This Guide allows readers to identify the wide variety of investment opportunities in the country and the legal framework that governs investments and investors’ commercial activities as well as the legal provisions applicable to foreign citizens when working in or visiting the country.
This Guide does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion about any specific matter. Should legal advice or other professional assistance be required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The information contained in this Guide has been updated as of March 2015.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Venezuela. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Venezuela.

The 2013 report goes beyond measuring chronic food deprivation. It presents a broader suite of indicators that aims to capture the multidimensional nature of food insecurity, its determinants and outcomes. This suite, compiled for every country, allows a more nuanced picture of their food security status, guiding policy-makers in the design and implementation of targeted and effective policy measures that can contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. Drawing on the suite of indicators, the report also examines the diverse experiences of six countries. These experiences show that other forms of malnutrition can sometimes be more significant than undernourishment. In such circumstances, policy interventions to improve food security need to include nutrition-sensitive interventions in agriculture and the food system as a whole, as well as in public health and education, especially of women. Nutrition-focused social protection may need to target the most vulnerable, including pregnant women, adolescent girls and children.

Policies aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and increasing food availability, especially when smallholders are targeted, can achieve hunger reduction even where poverty is widespread. When they are combined with social protection and other measures that increase the incomes of poor families, they can have an even more positive effect and spur rural development, by creating vibrant markets and employment opportunities, resulting in equitable economic growth. Not surprisingly, the specific country experiences suggest that high poverty levels generally go hand in hand with high levels of undernourishment. But undernourishment can also be more severe than poverty, especially when both are at high levels. As food is one of the most incomeresponsive of all basic necessities, higher incomes can therefore expedite reductions in undernourishment.

This handbook provides an overview of the Canadian economy and market, current trends in Canadian imports and opportunities created by these trends. Contains information on importation of how to market products in Canada. Includes names and addresses of agencies and organisations of importance to potential exporters to Canada.

Provides data on external public debt at both the regional level and details at the level of Member States. Presents data highlights on the overall debt situation of CARICOM excluding Barbados and Suriname.

The Aid Effectiveness paper explicitly re-confirms the overarching 1995 mandate for Canadian ODA. But it also strongly affirms the centrality of poverty reduction to development cooperation for CIDA and other donors. Many of the approaches suggested in the paper respond to the complexities of achieving this goal. At the same time, poverty reduction is a modest goal for CIDA, understating Canada’s public commitments at UN Conferences to work on a specific agenda for the eradication of poverty, such as the 1995 World Summit for Social Development or the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development. The CIDA paper, however, also makes explicit an additional rationale for aid, that is “Canada’s enlightened self-interests” that may deflect Canadian aid from the poorest countries and people. CCIC members have witnessed growing poverty, inequality deteriorating human rights and democratic governance in many parts of the developing world during the past decade. World Bank structural adjustment policies, long supported by the donor community, have been engines of marginalization and increased poverty. A critique of these policies and the responsibilities of donors for “mistaken” strategies in the past receive little attention in the Aid Effectiveness paper. In CCIC’s view strategies for poverty eradication should define Canada’s “enlightened self-interests” in our relations with developing countries.

Application of the rules of origin presented by Norris Breeedy, CARICOM Secretariat, June, 2009

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in the Cayman Islands. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within the Cayman Islands.

Policy makers in many countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region have found it challenging to determine how to treat natural resource commodity production and how to manage the recurrent cycles of booms and busts. Natural Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: Beyond Booms and Busts? addresses the major concerns associated with commodity dependence, summarizing the state of the art in existing literature and filling in the knowledge gaps with new analysis. The report finds that some commonly accepted negative effects of dependence on natural resources are largely myths, while some are realities. But the authors find that all the effects can be managed, and they provide practical advice on how to do so. Issues covered include long-term fiscal growth, fiscal volatility, institutional impacts, and environmental and social effects. The report analyzes the implications for the region’s development and policies. Natural Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: Beyond Booms and Busts? will be of interest to policy makers, academics,and analysts, as well as others interested in the economics of commodity markets and their role in economic development.

The paper argues that there are several key interrelated elements to globalization and that the future gains will derive from the degree to which countries are willing to embrace them together rather than in a sequenced fashion. Identifies some aspects of globalization which presents opportuntiese for erveloping countries and discusses appropriate policy actions.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in the Saint Lucia. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within the Saint Lucia.

The study suggests that the best source for obtaining trade data for the regional databases is the national statistics office in each country. The statistics offices collect data for the entire country’s trade and carries out extensive checking on the accuracy of the data.

This document examines issues of concern to civil society as they relate to trade including investment, services, intellectual property rights environment, dispute settlement and asymmetrical treatment in trade agreements.

The distribution and representation of foreign-made goods and services in the Dominican Republic is governed by Dominican Law 173 of 6 April 1966, as amended, on protection of local agents and distributors of merchandise ("Law 173"). This law has been greatly discussed and evaluated, since it grants extraordinary protection to the local agents and distributors, in case of unilateral termination by licensor. The salient features of Law 173 are the following: (a) is a so-called "public order" statute, i.e., its provisions cannot be superseded by private contract.

This paper suggests possible improvements in the rules of the GATS agreement, in the specific commitments made by countries and in the negotiating methodology. Recommends improvements that can be made in the current round of service negotiations in the specific commitments made by countries and in the negotiating methodology.

This paper was prepared exclusively for the Annual Conference of the International Studies Association Latin America and the Caribbean Regionalish in the global Economic Crisis II, New Orleans, USA, February 19, 2010.

The WTO Agreement on TBT encourages countries to use international standards in formulating technical regulations and voluntary standards, and in trade. It also requires that countries use guidelines and recommendations developed by international standardization organizations as the basis for their conformity assessment procedures.

Lists associations in OECD countries involved in the import/export trade. Gives addresses, product imported, level of membership and associated publications. Includes separate alphabetical product list which includes SITC Rev 2 codes and country information. For further information visit http://www.intracen.org/itc/trade-support/importers-associations/.

Presentation at a public lecture at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, cave Hill Campus, University of the West Indies, March 11, 2008.

The aim of the National Export Strategy 2015-2019 is to help guide the development of priority sectors’ towards the achievement of the national economic goals of Jamaica. A number of methodologies and tools were employed to achieve the objectives of the NES development process. One of the cornerstone methodologies employed was extensive stakeholder consultation. A number of stakeholders were consulted prior to and during the NES development process through interviews, one-on-one meetings and focus group sessions. In addition, a Validation Workshop was held on January 21st and 22nd 2015, where stakeholders had the opportunity to pro-actively engage in the action planning process. Subsequently, stakeholders have been given an opportunity to review the draft National Export Strategy document and provide comments and feedback, which were taken into consideration in finalising the strategy.

A key methodology was visioning. The vision for the various priority sectors and crosscutting areas, as well as the overall vision for export development in Jamaica were crafted based on consultations with stakeholders and review of other strategic initiatives and policies. Some of the specific visions were taken directly from the National Export Strategy 2010-2013. Others were adapted from the Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan. All vision statements however, were reviewed by stakeholders and confirmed at the Validation Workshop. Stakeholders were also given the opportunity to offer feedback during the strategy finalisation process. An overview of the vision for the National Export Strategy 2015-2019 is presented in the figure below.

The study is divided in 2 chapters. The first one refers to the market structure in the Dominican Republic and the analysis of the possible venues to host CGCS 2009; and the second one refers to the characteristics of the handcraft market in Puerto Rico. In the first chapter we will see the definitions of the terms that we will use in the study and in the present document, in order to continue with the quantitative and qualitative result thrown by the market investigation made in Dominican Republic. Chapter 2 will address the differential characteristics of the Puerto Rican market. Hard copy only.

The fundamental objective of this Agreement shall be to strengthen the trade and economic relations and technical cooperation between the Parties through:

(a) the promotion and expansion of the sale of goods originating in CARICOM and Colombia with particular emphasis on exports from CARICOM States in the early stages of the implementation of this Agreement;

(b) the promotion and protection of investments aimed at taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the markets of the Parties and strengthening their competitiveness in the international market;

(c) the facilitation of the creation and operation of regional joint ventures;

(d) the development of technical and scientific cooperation activities which may be agreed upon between the Parties;

(e) the promotion of private sector activities, including business exchanges between the Parties.

The Guide to US Food Labelling Law provides guidance on how to comply with the requirements of the Nutrition Labelling and Education Act of 1990. It explains the law and provides advice on avoiding enforcement actions by regulatory agencies. It includes information on the history of food labelling laws, the role of government agencies and the rules applying to dietary supplement labelling. For further information visit http://www.thompson.com/public/offerpage.jsp?promo=FOOD.

The research was conducted on five countries and with data collected on a number of sectors. The countries selected were Barbados, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. This selection sought to anticipate differences in the effects of different patterns of development in the larger countries vis-à-vis a possible divergent experience in the Windward and Leeward Islands.

International trade may appear to be a complex undertaking requiring extensive Resources, a large and expensive marketing and export department, a significant volume of the product to be marketed, and fluency in the language of the targeted countries. This is not the case. The goal of this handbook is to lay these myths to rest and open the world of exporting to companies that have previously abandoned the idea and new-to-export-companies. We will begin by exploring common misconceptions. The remainder of the handbook expands upon important issues for a successful export business.

Provides information on WIPO Patent Information Services for developing countries (WPIS), their usefulness and how they contribute to research and development activities and industrial development projects of developing countries.

This report is the 21st in a series of reports prepared by the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) under section 215 of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) of 1983 (19 U.S.C. 2704). Section 215 requires the Commission to submit to Congress and the President biennial reports regarding the economic impact of the CBERA program on U.S. industries and consumers, and on the economy of the beneficiary countries. As part of its report the Commission is required, first, to include an assessment of the actual effect, during the period covered by the report, of the program on the U.S. economy generally as well as on specific domestic industries which produce articles that are like or directly competitive with articles being imported into the United States from beneficiary countries. Second, the Commission is required to provide an assessment of the probable future effect that the program will have on the U.S. economy generally, as well as on domestic industries, before the provisions of the program terminate. This report covers the period 2011–12.

This study has captured a great deal of information on the investment climate in each of the 7 countries covered.  Unfortunately, uniform data were not available across all countries, making it difficult to carry out quantitative regional comparisons to establish competitiveness in all the areas surveyed.  Where comparable data are available, which is mainly in infrastructure, comparisons on key indicators have been made if useful.  In all areas of the investment climate examined, the qualitative information gathered helped supplement or stand in for the numerical data and using the totality of information available allows for some useful analysis.

This report examines the international law relating to trade in services as it relates to the member states of the Caribbean Community in the new era of the WTO and GATS. Discusses the extent to which requirements of the new law needs in principle to be met by legislation at the national level and examines the aspects of the law of Commonwealth Caribbean countries which pose, or are capable of posing obstacles to free trade in services. Hard copy only.

Technological innovation may be classified in several ways: product vs. process, radical (basic or fundamental) vs. incremental (improvement), and disruptive vs. sustaining (sequential and/or complementary). Other important types of (non-technological) innovations that do not result from scientific and/or technological R&D, but are often crucial for profitably marketing the products and services resulting from the investment made in R&D are: marketing innovation, institutional innovation, and complementary innovation.  In this article, however, the focus is on technological innovations. Nowadays, it is generally accepted that in a knowledge-driven, competitive business environment, technological innovation (hereafter, for the sake of simplicity, simply called ‘innovation’) is a principal determinant of successful firm performance. But differences of opinion persist amongst economists and policymakers about the exact role of intellectual property (IP) in relation to innovation. On the one hand, in theory, the IP system is considered to be absolutely necessary “to encourage creative intellectual endeavor in the public interest, and on the other, some observers believe that, in practice, the IP system hinders competition to the extent that it is often seen to be playing a negative role in innovation.  Hence the need for a systematic and periodic study and review of the actual use by businesses of the tools of the IP system so that economists are able to provide empirical, evidence-based guidance to policymakers to adapt the IP system so that it continues to serve the conflicting private and public interest in spurring further innovation and its wide diffusion in the shortest possible time. This article, however, does not deal with these otherwise important aspects.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Canada. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Canada.

This document consists of two main parts: a compartive study of the provisions in the Chile-US free trade agreement and the Dominican Republic-Central America- US Free trade Agreement; and comprative matrix of the legal text of the Agreements.

Explores the relevance of economies of scale, less diversification and macroeconomic policy autonomy, both at the conceptual and empirical level focusing on the Caribbean economies. Section I takes a look at the relationship between country size, specialisation and growth. Section II explores the effects of vulnerability to external shocks and limited macro-economic autonomy. Section III examines implications for national, regional and global policies.

Please visit  http://www.sice.oas.org/ctyindex/LCA/LCANatlDocs_e.asp to download this document and other related documents on Saint Lucia.

Please visit http://www.sice.oas.org/ctyindex/GRD/GRDNatlDocs_e.asp to download this document and other related information on Grenada.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Dominica. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Dominica.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Cuba.  Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country.  Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Cuba.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Antigua and Barbuda. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Antigua and Barbuda.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Barbados. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Barbados.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Cost Rica. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Costa Rica.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Belize. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Belize.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Curacao. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Curacao.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in the Guadeloupe. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within the Guadeloupe.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in the Haiti. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within the Haiti.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in the Martinique. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within the Martinique.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in the St. Kitts and Nevis. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within the St. Kitts and Nevis.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in the Suriname. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within the Suriname.

A study of best practice reveals that three elements are critical to an efficient trade policy process: government leadership, institutional capacity and the inclusion of all actors, including the relevant ministries (not just those in charge of ‘trade’), the business sector, trade promotion and regulatory bodies, think-tanks and other civil-society organisations. In countries in which this process is either inefficient or close to non-existent, donors need to seek to support its structuring and sustainability. Yet the various reports that constitute the background of this paper show that, while they do so to some extent, they generally operate in a dispersed manner, and very rarely adopt a comprehensive approach. The second part of the paper highlights some of the main success factors, as well as the common limitations, of TCD, based on the experiences of donors and recipients in Africa and the Caribbean.

This paper analyses the recent evolution and impact of the global economic crisis on the offshore services industry. Using a global value chains framework, the authors classify the offshore services sector in a comprehensive set of general and industry-specific activities that correspond to different segments and stages in the value-adding process for services. They analyse the impact of the economic crisis on the industry. The paper concludes that the offshore services industry will continue to offer growth opportunities for developing countries not only among existing market players, but also a range of new countries. The industry has the potential to become an important source for employment and economic growth around the globe. Download the paper at: http://go.worldbank.org/1QK77PG4W0.

Reviews 100 websites of trade support institutions and other trade providers. Highlights the large variety of dissemination options available to trade information providers.  Hard copy only.

The study involved a series of ten developing country case studies and a survey of SPS contact/enquiry points in all low- and middle-income countries that are members of the WTO and/or Codex Alimentarius. In many cases the impact of SPS measures could not be quantified and the results should be interpreted with care. However, the study does highlight a number of key issues and gives credence to the concerns that developing countries have themselves expressed about the impact of developed country SPS requirements and the weaknesses of the SPS Agreement.

This paper firstly explores the share of EU imports which is subject to duties, how much of the dutiable imports that is covered by trade preferences and how deep these preferences are. Secondly,it analyses the extent to which EU trade preferences are being used. These factors are explored for more countries/country grouping and sectors over a longer and more recent period of time (2003-2007) compared to previous studies. The paper further presents estimates of actual preference margins by developing country groups and sectors, aggregated from tariff line level. In a gravity model setting, the preferential margins then provide a more refined measure of trade preference compared to binary variables commonly used in the literature. Regressing these measure on EU preferential imports, as opposed to total imports, introduces another novelty compared to methods used in other studies.

As part of the Hub initiative this Training Manual has been prepared for ongoing use by the BPSA-PSTT and others involved in proposal writing for the private sector. Its purpose is to assist private sector organisations to:  i: better understand donor requirements;  ii: convert their business needs into Results Based development proposals; and  iii: obtain grant funding.  The Manual presents a generic, Results Based approach to project design and proposal writing while providing examples of approaches and templates used by specific donor agencies. In following these guidelines to proposal writing, private sector organisations will build appreciation of the Results Based management practices and effective decision making required by donor agencies and funders throughout the project management cycle from the identification of the business idea, problem or opportunity, through to project and proposal formulation, implementation and evaluation.

This document provides an overview of socio-ecomonic conditions in Brazil. Looks at government's attitude and incentives, the business environment, investment climate, market access conditions, general marketing factors and cultural practices in the country. Also provides general information including population, geography, political system and transport infrastructure within Brazil.

The consultations with the private sector were organized through coordinators representing the institutional private sector structures within the integration groupings as well as regional business associations. This document includes the inputs from the following organizations: Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO); Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC); Council of the Americas; Latin American Business Council (CEAL); Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL); Latin American and Caribbean Association of Information Technology Entities (ALETI); The Andean Business Advisory Council; Private Sector of the Americas and the business sector of the Economic-Social Consultative Forum of Mercosur.

This policy briefing from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) calls for a new approach for Haiti’s reconstruction and long-term economic development based on increasing and improving State capacities and respecting the country’s ownership of the process. It says recovery must be a shared responsibility between Haiti and its development partners, but donor generosity is only one component of success. The new approach to international cooperation should target investment in productive capacity and infrastructure, improved market access, domestic resource mobilization, and greater agricultural productivity. It must constitute an integrated approach to macroeconomic, industrial and trade policy to generate employment and reduce poverty.  The document is available at http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/presspb20103_en.pdf

CDB, in association with the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), invited regional private sector interests, regional financiers, multilateral institutions, donor agencies and regional and international organisations to participate in a Summit to determine the needs and priorities of the regional private sector and to explore ways of addressing these needs.

More broadly, the Summit had the following objectives that were largely met:

1. to enhance dialogue and information exchange amongst and between the Private and Public Sectors of the Caribbean;
2. to deepen the understanding of the impact of Globalisation on Caribbean Private and Public Sectors;
3. to develop and make accessible pro-active support mechanisms and strategies which would improve the Caribbean Private Sector’s international competitiveness; and
4. to increase the role of the CDB and other multilateral and donor agencies in facilitating the Caribbean Private Sector transformation.

This publication outlines the procedures for setting up and operating a business in Barbados.

Following a series of negotiation sessions, with the last session having taken place on March 11, 2010, the EU and the ACP parties have reached agreement on the included set of text proposals.  This document provides information on the changes to the Cotonou Agreement - agreed consolidated text, March 11, 2010.

The paper is divided into six sections. The first section discusses the issue from a conceptual viewpoint, examining and reviewing the Central American precedents. The second section looks at the approach that the DR-CAFTA has adopted in terms of its application, and the nature of its obligations. The third section analyzes the relationship between the DR-CAFTA and Central American integration instrument, with reference to their general rules and to the concrete implications of those in each of the thematic area of the agreement. The fourth section reviews the application of the agreement between each Central American Country and the DR. The fifth section dicusses some considerations with respect to the oppoertunities and challenges of the multilateral application of the agreement.The sixth section offers some final comments.

Paper presented by Delisle Worrell at the 3rd Meeting of Caribbean Business Support Organisations, held in the Dominican Republic from March 24-25, 2009, under the theme "Remaining Competitive in a Global Crisis."

The World Tariff Profi les is a joint publication of the WTO, ITC and UNCTAD devoted to market access for goods. This statistical yearbook contains a comprehensive compilation of the main tariff parameters for each of the 153 WTO Members and other countries and customs territories. Each country profile presents information on tariffs imposed by each economy on its imports complemented with an analysis of the market access conditions it faces in its major export markets. The publication is presented in three main parts. The first part shows summary statistics for all countries and territories for all products, as well as a break-down into agricultural and non-agricultural products. The second part shows for each of these countries and territories, one full page with disaggregation by sectors and duty ranges. It also contains a section on the market access conditions faced in their respective major export markets. The third part contains a summary table on concessions on Other Duties and Charges (ODCs).

From the historical outline of this debate, four apparently distinct periods, which are now merging into the present fifth period or phase, will be identified. The first phase is that which immediately follows April 1970, and goes to the middle of the 1970s. It is noteworthy that as early as 1947, a Meeting of West Indian Governors reportedly reflected on the need for a West Indian Court of Appeal and urged its establishment. The hallmark of the immediate post Pratt and Morgan period is emotionalism and a departure from rationalism in the debate. The period also witnessed the rise of two factions which express support or otherwise for the establishment of a Caribbean final court in accordance with their various positions on capital punishment. Emerging from the emotionalism which was thrown up by the Pratt and Morgan decision, Part III of this paper considers emotionalism as an issue in the debate. It seeks to show that emotionalism featured prominently in the termination of appeals to the Privy Council from some other Commonwealth jurisdictions. It also looks briefly at emotionalism in the context of the debate in the Caribbean. Part IV considers the present state of the debate. It indicates that a degree of emotionalism is still attached to the debate following Pratt and Morgan. However, it highlights the attempts which are being made to move the debate away from the emotional and back to the rational and pragmatic, and which distinguishes this period from the immediate post Pratt and Morgan era. Part V follows the movement to return the debate to the rational. It therefore distills the issues which have been preferred both against and for the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice in their classical theoretical context. It goes further, however, to focus on the practical steps which are being taken to address the concerns which have been raised by these issues. Among other considerations, this Part alludes to the extremely critical role which the Court will perform in the deepening of the regional integration movement and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSM&E). Part VI is, however, substantially dedicated to this aspect, while Part VII looks at the way forward towards the establishment of the Court.

Through the publication of this MERCOSUR Report, INTAL's intention is to facilitate access to information by potential readers who are interested in this region. Furthermore, the aim is to convey the interest that MERCOSUR arises at the sub-regional level, facilitating dissemination to the international community through the publication of a report in English, besides both official languages in the region: Spanish and Portuguese.  The period covered by MERCOSUR Report 14 (July 2008-June 2009) was marked by the international crisis. The inflationary phase of the crisis (August 2007-June 2008) fuelled certain expansionary trends in MERCOSUR countries. Once this phase had run its course, MERCOSUR’s performance began to feel the negative effects of the world economy. As of the fourth quarter of 2008, the collapse of activity levels and global trade, falling commodity prices, and financing difficulties were reflected in recessionary trends within the bloc. However, as of March 2009, there were clear signs of stabilization in the world economy, if not of outright recovery. This marks a shift in the international scenario compared to the previous period.  http://www.iadb.org/intal/aplicaciones/uploads/publicaciones/i_MERCOSUR_Report_14.pdf

This report reviews current knowledge with respect to four questions: What is the effect of international trade on domestic water resources? What is the effect of water availability on international trade? Can international trade increase global water-use efficiency? And finally, what type of international trade rules would promote a more wise use of water worldwide? For further information visit  http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/wtr10_hoekstra_e.htm

A Guide to Investing in Trinidad and Tobago, is written and revised annually by InvesTT Limited (InvesTT), a member of the eTecK group. It is intended to provide investors and potential investors with basic, yet useful information on doing business in Trinidad and Tobago and the investment and tax climate that currently exists. While every effort is taken to make the guide as complete and accurate as possible, it is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of the law or used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice. invesTT waives any responsibility or liability for any errors or facet of opinion herein.

The global economic crisis, and governments’ responses to the crisis, did not precipitate a descent into 1930s-style protectionism. That is a relief. But it provides no refuge from policy measures that will slow down globalisation and growth in the next decade. “Creeping protectionism” is increasing, and the crisis has reinforced trends visible before the start of the crisis. New patterns of protectionism are similar to developments in the 1970s and 1980s rather than the 1930s. Domestic “crisis interventions”, especially in capital and product markets, and the return of Big Government, will spill over to external policy, with more defensive trade policies as a consequence.

The design of good policies will have to be mindful of the danger of excessive reliance on bureaucratic controls. While government leadership is going to be essentia l in correcting the huge externality that is climate change, markets and prices will have to be put to work, so that private sector decisions can lead more naturally to optimal investment and production decisions.  Carbon and carbon equivalent gases have to be priced so that using them reflects their true social cost. This should be the essence of mitigation policy. The world has spent decades getting rid of quantity restrictions in many domains, not least foreign trade. This is not the time to come back to a system of ma ssive quotas and bureaucratic controls because of climate change.  Emission targets and energy efficiency targets have an important role to play but it is the price system that has to make it easier to achieve our goals. This will require a much deeper dialogue between economists and climate scientists as well as environmentalists than what we have seen so far. We do hope that this Human Development Report will contribute to such a dialogue.

This report seeks to make an analytical contribution in this respect. It does so in two ways. First, it sheds light on global innovation trends – especially those concerning IP – and assesses the ways in which innovation has really changed. Second, it reviews the available evidence on how IP protection affects innovative behavior and what this evidence implies for the design of IP and innovation policies.

The guide provide a comprehensive coverage of the relevant issues of interest to non-state actors and reflects the successful consultation process undertaken with a wide range of stakeholders from the six ACP regions and the European Commission. In particular, the guide also provide practical information and specific answers on the modelities for the enhanced engagement of non-state actors in ACP-EC cooperation.

We have the opportunity in the coming decade to cut world poverty by half.  Billions more people could enjoy the fruits of the global economy. Tens of millions of lives can be saved. The practical solutions exist. The political framework is established. And for the first time, the cost is utterly affordable.  Whatever one’s motivation for attacking the crisis of extreme poverty—human rights, religious values, security, fiscal prudence, ideology—the solutions are the same. All that is needed is action.  This report recommends the way forward. It outlines a way to attain this bold ambition. It describes how to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.  This document presents an overview of the findings and recommendations of the UN Millennium Project, an independent advisory body to Secretary - General. 

This report provides an assessment of progress with the achievement of the MDGs in the Eastern Caribbean, that is, Barbados and members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), over the period 1990 to 2002. It complements previous UNDP reports prepared on social and economic development in the Eastern Caribbean, namely, the Sub-Regional Common Assessment of Barbados and the OECS (UNDP, 2000) and the OECS Human Development Report 2002 (OECS, 2002). The structure of the presentation is as follows: in sections 2 to 9, an assessment of the eight MDGs in the Eastern Caribbean is undertaken. In section 10, an overall assessment of progress towards the achievement of the MDGs is presented. The final section summarizes the main issues in the report.

Doing Business 2007: Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is a regional report drawing on the data of the global Doing Business project and database, as well as the findings of Doing Business 2007: How to Reform, an annual report published by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Doing Buisiness analyzes government regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it in 175 countries, including the six independent member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, the Federation of St. Christopher (st Kitts) and Nevis, St. lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Quantitative indicators on business regulations and their enforcement can be compared with 169 economies around the world, including 9 other Caribbean economies and 34 small states.

The aim the present study is to gain a deeper understanding of the decision-making of individuals involved in the entrepreneurial process. It is achieved by comparing entrepreneurs with different level of expertise in contexts that are more or less entrepreneurs- inducing.The issues of learning and expertise-investigation of what entrepreneurial knowledge is and how it is applied-are also addressed. Hard copy only.

Review of wooden furniture markets in United States, Canada, China, Japan, Egypt and selected countries in the European Union: France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxenbourg, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Sweden. For each country provides overview of basic demand factors and market drivers, domestic furniture industry, market trends and developments, distrbution channels, and market access conditions. Deals with technical standards as well as international and national certification schemes in the furniture sector. Identifies furniture networks and clusters; outlines strategy for developing wooden furniture sector in tropical countries; outlines step-by-step value-added processing of wooden furniture in tropical countries, based on local conditions. Includes statistical data, selection of German furniture standards, list of usefl contacts in China, and list of members of the Global Forest and Trade Network.

Guide focusing on the role of government programmes in public procurement to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in becoming better exporters. Identifies and explains advantages and disadvantages of public procurement programmes designed to assist SMEs. Looks at criteria used for determining eligibility for SME status in various countries. Examines programmes used by selected countries to assist SMEs in a procurement context. Gives guidance on implementation of public procurement programmes designed to assist SMEs. Hard copy only

The reintensification of bi-regional trade and investment relations depends strongly on economic recovery and growth in both regions. However, the relatively low level of economic interaction even prior to the crisis, the Asian crisis itself and the present international economic environment, especially the slowdown of the US economy and the standstill of Japanese economy, cast doubt on the sustained stimulus of the "push" and "pull" factors. For this reason, the governments in both regions have increasingly recognized the need to institutionalize their mechanisms of consultation and possibly to implement joint actions for economic cooperation. From this perspective, the first Ministerial Meeting of EALAF, March 2001, in Santiago, Chile, which renamed itself as FEALAC (Forum for East-Asia-Latin America Cooperation), has earmarked an important step towards "South-South cooperation" between the two regions. Among a wide range of topics to be addressed at this forum, however, in view of the current low levels of economic exchange and great potentials for expansion, economic issues should be a key part of the cooperation process. To meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of an ever more globalized world economy, countries in both regions now find it urgent to target new export markets and to look for the best sources of imports, technology and investment capital.

This paper looks at how the Mexican economy has been shaped by NAFTA and contrasts the Mexican economy o the rest of North America. Looks at four dimensions in which NAFTA may be analyzed; its impact on optimal economic policies, on economic performance, on income distribution and on labor market integration. Discusses the institutional consequences of NAFTA under the premise that institutions matter for economic outcomes. Also presents some lessons for the FTAA negotiating countries.

This paper seeks to demonstrate the tremendous importance of services trade liberalization to economic development. It argues that the Doha Development Agenda, or Doha "Round" of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to realize multilateral liberalization of international trade and investment in services. The paper describes dozens of instances in which liberalization has led to growth, with special emphasis on five key service sectors that make substantial and unique contributions to economic growth, development, and living standards: Financial services,express delivery, business services, audiovisual services and telecommunications.

The new manual on statistics of International Trade in Services has broadened the statistical view of trade in services froma a subset of the balance of payments to refelect the modes by which services are supplied in practice. This paper highlights the need for adequate classification of services in balance of payments, payments, products and activities as well as for stronger links between them. This paper advocates that EBOPS links to CPC and ISIC should be strengthened, but warns that a complete product basis for EBOPs may be counter productive.

Revised edition of the publication "International Trade Rules: Business Questions about the World Trading System and the WTO" issued in the year 2000 as a technical Paper. Intended mainly for use by small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries and transisiton economies, it examines the impact of multilateral trade agreements on international trade flows; explains the mechanism for implementing, and the impact of, the WTO Agreements; covers trade barriers, including sanitary regulations and antidumping duties, trade in goods especially agriculatural products and textiles, dispute settlement, regional agreements, trade in services and trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights. Concluding sections look specifically at the WTO system in relation to small and medium-sized enterprises and least developed countries. Hard copy only.

Study focusing on the role and importance of information technology in raising the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the international market - identifies critical factors preventing SMEs in developing countries from making optimal use of IT; provides recommendations aimed at SME support institutions as a basis for designing technical assistance services for the business sector; presents case studies illustrating active participation of trade support institutions in this area, in Africa, Asia and Latin America.  Hard copy only.

Summary of discussions held at the Executive Forum on National Export Strategies, organised by International Trade Centre, Annecy, France, 26-29 September 1999 - assesses what a national export strategy should encompass with regard to dynamics of current international market environments; looks at process of stategy development and management, reviewing basic questions of leadership and ownership; examines types of institutional linkages and functional relationships required for effective formulation and implementation of broad-based stategies; reviews techniques and issues related to utility and impact assessment of national export strategies; explores implications of electronic commerce, increasing dominance of multinationals, and global outsourcing for national export stategies.  Hard copy only.

Study dealing with marketing principles and key managerial decisions facing small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies, in the light of the WTO Agreement and the multilateral trading system. Identifies and analyses regulatory problems in export markets; includes case studies illustrating in detail how business firms, in a variety of countries and industries, are affected by regulatory change and how they respond to it. Hard copy only.

Handbook focussing on available methods for preventing and resolving commercial disputes. Deals with different types of disputes encountered in international trade and describes methods preventing or resolving them; outlines fundamental principles applicable to international commercial arbitration; explains how to draft an arbitration clause and provides selected model clauses; appendices contain text of major international arbitration conventions and rules, as well as list of arbitration institutions worldwide. Hard copy only.

This booklet provides a sample of the many distinctive Caribbean products representing IP value capture opportunties.

Provides information on the socio-economic, political and business environment in Chile.

This briefing paper is divided into five sections. The first offers a regional overview of FDI in 2010. The second examines FDI trends in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic. The third describes the presence China is beginning to build up as an investor in the region. Lastly, the fourth and fifth sections analyse the main foreign investments and business strategies in the telecommunications and software sectors, respectively.

This paper attempts to substantiate that Latin America's recent wave of regional integration is indeed a new regionalism quite different from the old, and hence merits a more comprehensive perspective than in the past.  Section II of the paper examines some stylized facts of the Old Regionalism and is accompanied by an Appendix, which outlines the Andean Group’s early Post War initiative, which probably approximated the theoretical ideal of the era. Section III compares the New Regionalism with the Old, drawing distinctions regarding the key features of regional integration and development policy. In Section IV, these differences are expanded by briefly considering some indicators of New Regionalism trade patterns. Section V outlines how some of the Old Regionalism characteristics linger on in the New Regionalism, and is followed by some concluding remarks in section VI.