The International Trade Centre: Promoting Exports for Development

In the era of rapid globalization, the ITC plays a significant and wide ranging role working with both governments and trade support institutions to nurture an export culture, this work will provide a much needed overview of this dynamic organization.

This book:


Details the history of the organization since its inception


Examines its current mandate and the impact of recent reforms


Analyses the ability of the ITC to provide trade intelligence, and its role in the development of national export strategies


Evaluates the future challenges, and emphasises that the ITC must continue to broaden its mandate and continue to be responsive and results orientated to remain a key player


The status of ITC – half-in and half-out of the UN – could prove to be an interesting model for the future, and this work will be of interest to not only to academics but also government trade specialists and negotiators, the "aid for trade" donors, NGOs, and those involved in the running of international organizations.

Stephen Browne is Director of The Future of the UN Development System (FUNDS) Project and Fellow of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He worked for more than 30 years in different organizations of the UN development system.
Sam Laird is Special Professor of International Economics at the University of Nottingham; Visiting Professor, Trade Policy Centre for Africa, Arusha, Tanzania, and has taught at various institutes in Bern, Paris, Tokyo, and Vienna. He was also with UNCTAD, the WTO, the World Bank, and the Australian Industries Assistance (now Productivity) Commission.

Introduction: Exporting for Development 1. Origins and History 2. Current Structure and Mandate 3. Trade Intelligence 4. Strategies, Polities and Negotiations 5. Trade Support Institutions 6. Enterprise Competitiveness 7. Facing the Future