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Trade points help facilitate overseas business transaction
by bringing together all service providers related to export import
trade. The focus is on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). While
Industry Associations focus on domestic market and lobbying with
government, trade points focus on helping SMEs take greater participation
in international business.
What is a Trade Point ?
A trade point is a meeting place for various entities
related to foreign trade - buyers, sellers, inspection agencies,
customs, foreign trade institutes, freight forwarders, transport
companies, banks and insurance firms etc. Its mission is to foster
greater participation in international trade in particular of small
and medium-sized enterprises, by reducing transaction costs, by
contributing to the simplification and harmonization of trade procedures
worldwide, and giving traders access to advanced technologies and
information networks.
Origin of Trade Points
Origin of Trade Points is an initiative of the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to assist Small
and Medium Enterprises (SME) participate in International trade.
According to this program - Trade Points are :
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business facilitation centers, physically or virtually
aggregating agents involved in foreign trade transactions (eg.
in customs clearance, transportation, banking, insurance, etc);
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sources of information on foreign trade;
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gateways to global trade nets and to trade opportunities,
operating in a network through the World Wide Web
Evolution of Trade Points
The GTPnet or Global Trade Points Network has established
more than 160 centres worldwide. Though the initiatives were really
path breaking - most of the good work was undone by an overemphasis
on govt machinery rather than free market initiative to create a
vibrant information sharing network. Good news is that there is
now visible indication of greater non-govt initiatives with more
and more private trade points emerging. These trade points are helping
traders in their respective countries in a significant way to reach
global markets.
Trade Points as Source of Information
Trade points, could be great source of information
on foreign trade, specially information pertaining to a foreign
market. Following is a list of trade points (both UN sponsored and
private ones) who could be great source of information. This is
only a partial list for demonstration - please use following link
to list of 160 UN sponsored trade points for a comprehensive listing.
World Trade Point Federation http://www.wtpfed.org/trade_point.html
List of Selected Trade Points
Trade Point Information Exchange program
We at www.infobanc.com have initiated a program to
share information with more than 300 Trade Points, Chambers of Commerce,
Industry Associations, Trade Promotion Orgns etc. throughout the
world. We publish a weekly newsletter called 'SUCHNA' for foreign
trade organizations. SUCHNA contains trade inquiries from Indian
importers. Overseas trade organizations receiving SUCHNA send us
BUY/DEMAND inquiries received from their members for distribution
among Indian exporters. This has proved to be extremely helpful
as Indian importers receive excellent quotations from actual manufacturers
and exporters and our exporter members receive genuine buy/demand
inquiries from overseas importers.
Related Links:
Source: FAIDA
- Newsletter on Business Opportunties from India and Abroad
Vol: 2, Issue 34
January 31' 2002
Author :
Dr. Amit K. Chatterjee
(Amit worked in blue-chip Indian and MNCs for 15 years in various
capacities like Research and Information Analysis, Market Development,
MIS, R&D Information Systems etc. before starting his e-commerce
venture in 1997. The views expressed in this columns are of
his own. He may be reached at amit@infobanc.com
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