ITC's online directory of verified packaging suppliers is helping small businesses across East Africa find affordable, quality packaging — and cut through a challenge that has long limited their growth. ITC brought the directory to thousands of people at Propak East Africa, the region's leading event for packaging, plastics, print, and processing....
The Global Trade Helpdesk offers a comprehensive platform that simplifies market research for firms of all sizes. By teaming up with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the online tool now offers insight on which markets to sell to, and how to get products there.As companies negotiate deals with buyers and exp...
When Stella Ereyukomhen boarded her flight from Lagos to Beijing, she expected to learn and explore new sales opportunities. She did not expect to return with an entirely new perspective on how her company – Royal Winosa Industries Ltd., which makes plantain flour and cassava chips – could grow in global markets. Stella is part o...
Statement by Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre (ITC) When I meet entrepreneurs, no matter where they come from, their biggest barrier to trade is one and the same: access to finance.The global financing gap for small businesses is $5.7 trillion in emerging markets, according to the World Bank. That's more th...
With the support of European Union, the East African Community (EAC) and ITC, East African companies can now access consolidated information tailored to their products and target markets without navigating multiple sources. Certifications, sanitary rules, packaging standards, and labelling requirements can make it difficult for small businesses in Eas...
A high-level event on women and trade will be held on the margins of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé on 25 March to bring together women entrepreneurs, development partners, and WTO members.Registration for the event—which will feature the work of the WTO Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheT...
A new ITC report shows strong support for the African Union certification scheme, highlighting quality as the top driver for its success in boosting regional trade.The African Union’s Made in Africa (MiA) label is gaining momentum across the continent, promising to reshape how African-made goods are perceived both locally and internationally. Launched in ...
Over 74 countries participated in the latest technical meeting of the SME Ministerial community, which launched a phase of policy-sharing between countries seeking SME development.The first meeting of the SME Ministerial community of 2026 saw an increase in the number of countries engaging with the process. This marks the beginning of a key phase of policy...
To make sure that countries know exactly what they’re buying and selling, and how any tariffs might apply, the world developed a uniform system for classifying goods.As Uzbekistan prepares for its impending accession to the World Trade Organization, their customs officials received extensive training on how this classification system works. While it ...
For decades, the Gambia’s economy has run by exporting raw materials and importing finished products. As the economy evolves, more local providers are offering goods and services that Gambian businesses need at home. The problem is how to link up these businesses. As part of its efforts to boost Gambian tourism, the International Trade Centre (ITC) c...
