February 2006
This monthly Newsletter brings you news for international co-operation professionals on economic and social development. Free of charge if you recommend it to other colleagues. Edited by Karsten Karsten Weitzenegger Consulting, http://www.weitzenegger.de
CONTENT
- Austria took over EU Presidency
- A Stronger Partnership between the EU and Latin America
- EU-Africa: Trade and Development
- Commission presents new agricultural market and income forecasts
- EU and Africa close first phase of EPA negotiations
- Discussion: Responsible Business and Competitiveness
- EIB Group Activity in 2005
- AL-Invest III celebrates two years of results
- ID21: Trade reforms needed for global peace
- Practical Guide to Contract Procedures for EC Funding
- World Information and Communication for Development Report 2006
- Training and Events
- Publication
- Websites of the Month
1. Austria took over EU Presidency
Official Austrian Presidency website: http:////www.eu2006.at/en/
During its Presidency, Austria will place emphasis on areas in which it has specific experience, in particular, initiatives on energy and democratic governance. Austria is planning an EU seminar at senior official level on energy issues in development co-operation. This will also serve to define the EU?s development policy position for the deliberations of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development 2006-7. In the field of democratic governance, Austria attaches particular importance to the role of women before, during and after conflicts. Initiatives are also envisaged concerning improvements in the EU?s communication to the general public of its activities in the field of development co-operation. Finally, Austria will turn its attention to continuing dialogue with the new Member States on building up development co-operation structures that comply with the ?Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness? adopted by the OECD.
The Austrian EU-Platform continues the efforts to demand that national governments and the European Commission ensure poverty eradication is kept at the heart of EU development policy and that other policies are coherent with that. On 12-13 December 2005 over 120 participants from 20 states across Europe attended the first international conference of the Presidency Project of the Austrian EU Platform for Development NGOs. This ?kick-off? event covered enlargement and development co-operation: 1.5 years after enlargement, lessons learnt and challenges for the next round. Sabine Rehbichler is the Advocacy and Networking Officer at the Austrian EU Platform of Development NGOs.
Email: sabine.rehbichler @ eu-platform.at. See http://www.richpoorworld.at and http://www.eu-platform.at for more.
2. A Stronger Partnership between the European Union and Latin America
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/la/doc/com05_636_en.pdf
The European Commission has proposed a renewed strategy designed to strengthen the EU-Latin America strategic partnership. With a view to the next EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit to be held in Vienna in May 2006, the Commission analyses the current challenges and makes practical recommendations for revitalising the partnership. Its proposals include stepping up political dialogue between the two regions, stimulating economic and commercial exchanges, encouraging regional integration, tackling inequality and tailoring its development and aid policy more closely to real conditions in Latin America
3. EU-Africa: Trade and Development
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/81&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
South Africa is the EU's largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. Following the provisional application of the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) in January 2000, South African exports to the EU went up by 46%. The improvement of the composition of EU-South Africa trade is also encouraging: while EU exports to South Africa comprise a larger share of capital goods, South Africa is gradually moving from mainly commodity-based products to a more diversified structure of exports including more manufactured products. That is the high road to development. The political and regional backdrop to the relationship is changing fast. The EU has grown by ten new members and significantly increased its global political and trading reach. The same regional perspective applies for the Southern African region. The EU, African Union (AU) and African, Carribean and Pacific countries (ACP) have also jointly embarked on root and branch reviews of their relations, though the launch of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with ACP sub-regional groupings. In Southern Africa these negotiations are with seven members of SADC (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Mozambique and Angola). It is important to have greater involvement of South Africa in the EPA SADC negotiations. South Africa is an observer within these negotiations, and the more it is involved, the more we will have economic coherence: between trade arrangements within the region, but also between the region and the EU.
4. Commission presents new agricultural market and income forecasts
http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/caprep/prospects2005b/index_en.htm
The European Commission published a report on ''Prospects for agricultural markets and income 2005-2012''. This report, which does not take into account the recent decisions adopted in the framework of the WTO negotiations in Hong Kong in December 2005 and the conclusions of the European Council from December 2005 on the 2007-2013 financial perspectives, shows that the medium-term perspectives for the EU cereals, meat and dairy markets appear relatively favourable. The build-up of high levels of stock in 2004 is expected to continue to leave the cereal markets in a fragile situation over the short-term, with the risk of regional imbalance in the landlocked new Member States of central Europe. In the medium-term, there should be a gradual fall in stock levels supported by further, though moderate demand increases on the domestic market, more favourable conditions on world markets and the better integration of new Member States into the single market.
5. EU and Eastern and Southern Africa close first phase of Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/140&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson met with Ministers from Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) on 9 February in Mauritius to launch the second phase of negotiations of the EU ?ESA Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The Economic Partnership Agreement is based on regional integration in the Southern and Eastern Africa region. Talks so far have focussed on the development component of the EPA including access to the EU market, reform of rules of origin, and measures to address technical barriers to trade. The 15 Trade Ministers from the region and the Trade Commissioner agreed that EU-ESA trade can be an effective tool for development.
6. Discussion: Responsible Business and Competitiveness in Developing Countries
http://rru.worldbank.org/Discussions/Topics/Topic72.aspx
Socially and environmentally responsible business practices can increase the competitiveness of companies. But can such practices positively impact the competitiveness of entire industry clusters, sectors, or even the whole economy? Or will corporate responsibility simply become excess baggage jettisoned in a race to the bottom of global competitiveness? These questions are being debated in a Private Sector Devepment Department's online discussion that will continue until February 27. This online discussion is moderated by Alex MacGillivray, director of the responsible competitiveness program at AccountAbility; Annemarie Meisling, private sector specialist with the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS); and Sasha Radovish, head of partnership governance and accountability research at AccountAbility.
7. EIB Group Activity in 2005
http://www.eib.org/Attachments/general/events/briefing2006_acp_en.pdf
Under the European Union-African Caribbean and Pacific States Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Agreement), the European Investment Bank (EIB)is providing up to EUR 1.7 billion of its own resources and a further EUR 2 billion that it manages under the Investment Facility (IF) between 2003-2008. The Investment Facility makes available long-term capital in the form of various risk-sharing instruments focused on the financing of private sector operations and public sector infrastructure essential for economic growth and the development of private sector investment. In specific cases, notably projects with an important environmental and/or social component, loans may be granted on concessional terms Negotiations on the revision of the Cotonou Agreement were concluded last June. Under the revision, projects located in Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and in post-natural disaster areas also become eligible for concessional financing. Negotiations on the Cotonou financial endowment for the next six years are ongoing.
8. AL-Invest III celebrates two years of results
AL-Invest III Website: http://195.207.138.65/
After almost two years of implementation, the AL-INVEST III programme is now at the halfway stage. Since its launch in December 2003, the programme has benefited more than 22,000 SMEs and business associations. The AL-INVEST III network includes more than 200 organisations in Europe and Latin America and is still growing fast. Contact: Virginia Bustos bustos @ al-invest3.org and Fernando Ramos al-invest3 @ eurochambres.be
9. ID21: Trade reforms needed for global peace
http://www.id21.org/society/s7ata1g2.html
Countries such as Afghanistan, Angola and Sierra Leone have been damaged by years of civil war. Increasing international trade, levying international taxes to fund environmental protection and global justice, abolishing agricultural subsidies in rich countries and increasing aid, may help many such countries to recover.
10. Practical Guide to Contract Procedures for EC Funding
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/tender/practical_guide_2006/index_en.htm
A new ''Practical Guide to Contract Procedures for EC External Actions'' was published on EuropeAid's (AIDCO) website. This Practical Guide describes the rules to be followed and explains the contracting procedures applying to all EC external aid contracts financed from the European Communities general budget (Budget) and the European Development Fund (EDF).
11. World Information and Communication for Development Report 2006
http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=5001638
Information and communication technologies are rapidly evolving, changing rich and poor societies alike. They have become a powerful tool for participating in the global economy and offering new opportunities for development efforts. This report examines the ICT-related roles of the public and private sectors in both developed and developing countries, identifying the challenges and benefits of adopting and expanding ICT use. The report assesses topics essential to building an information society, such as investment and access.
12. Training and Events
Workshop: poverty reduction, equity, and growth: new issues and findings, Germany
http://www.eldis.org/cf/rdr/rdr.cfm?doc=DOC20891
Kiel Institute of World Economics/Institut fur Weltwirtschaft (2006)
On April 28 2006, the Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network (PEGNet) will hold a workshop, poverty reduction, equity, and growth: new issues and findings at the Kiel Institute for World Economics, Kiel, Germany.
Scholarships for MA students from Africa
- Deadline 1 March 2006 -
http://www.ascleiden.nl/research/MPhil/
In close cooperation with Leiden University, the African Studies Centre offers a two-year Research Masters in African Studies (MPhil). The degree qualifies graduates for further research in academia at PhD level, or for positions in policy-making and/or in management, for example in the NGO sector.
European Union, Latin America and Caribbean Business Summit
http://www.eulac2006.com
Vienna ? Austria, May 11 ? 13, 2006, Belvedere Castle
The EU-LAC Business Summit takes place in Vienna on May 12th, 2006 and convenes Chief Executive Officers from both continents. The Business Summit provides an excellent forum to encounter business opportunities, but also to analyse and discuss urgent requests from the business communities of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean with regard to bilateral trade relations and direct investment. EU-LAC Business Summit Office, Hotline: +43 664 4023030 Conference fee: Euro 840,?
Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
http://www.iirr.org
This course is intended for development leaders and executives who design and manage community-based development programs or projects, and extension officers and field personnel that implement them. The course provides a facilitative learning environment conducive to a cooperative yet challenging self-assessment and shared discourse about conventional and participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) concepts and practices.
IX Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise
http://www.iadb.org/sds/foromic/?language=English
Quito - Ecuador, September 13-15, 2006
Info: foromic @ iadb.org
Techno-Fair - New Technologies for Microfinance
http://www.capaf.org/Technofoire_Dakar2006.html
Dakar - Senegal, 23-25 February 2006
Asia Microfinance Forum
http://http//www.bwtp.org/asiamicrofinance/
Beijing - China, 21-24 March 2006
Governance and Companies Involvement in Cluster Initiative
http://www.competitiveness.org/article/view/742
Lyon - France, October 9 to 13, 2006
WAIPA World Investment Conference 2006
Washington, DC - USA, 8-9 March 2006
The Rise of New Players and New Forms of FDI. A workshop will present successful experiences of investment promotion agencies from the Balkans and Africa.
Macroeconomic Policy in the Franc Zone: What can the European Central Bank Learn from Africa?
http://www.oecd.org/document/44/0,2340,en_2649_33731_36063212_1_1_1_1,00.html
Paris - France, 21 February 2006, 3-5 p.m., Room 4, OECD HQ,
Seminar organised by the OECD Development Centre and WIDER
13. Publication
KfW: Poverty and transport
http://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/EN_Home/Service/Onlinelibr23/Medienkoop.jsp
Consistent transport concepts benefit all population strata. Experience shows that they are a special priority of poor people. Only those models that include maintenance can function on a sustained basis. The experiences gained in this area have since been put to use in cooperation with the magazine Development + Cooperation
Microfinance institutions working with remittances
http://www.bannock.co.uk/PDF/CapturingMarketShareFull.pdf
Tihis paper by Cerstin Sander (Bannock Consulting) looks at migrant remittances to and in Africa and the link with the microfinance industry as a provider of money transfer or ancillary financial services to remittance senders and recipients. It explores what transfer services microfinance institutions currently do or could provide and discusses the opportunities and challenges of such services for MFIs in Africa.
Developing countries create their own competition rules for global markets
http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ditcclp20051_en.pdf.
Equitable trade deals require competition rules, and developing countries stand to gain from such rules. This is the main message of a new analysis of competition rules in regional trade agreements published by UNCTAD. The book, entitled Competition Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements: How to Assure Development Gains and prepared with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, draws on the expertise of the UNCTAD secretariat, lead practitioners and scholars around the world.
Global Investment Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2005-2008
http://www.unctad.org/fdiprospects
Global Investment Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2005-2008, published by UNCTAD, features detailed analyses of trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) expected to occur over the next three years, as well as reviews of the strategies of transnational corporations and of policy developments expected to influence such investment. The Assessment's findings are based on global surveys of large transnational firms, international experts in FDI, and national investment promotion agencies. They also result from analyses of key factors affecting FDI.
Monthly Bulletin of Statistics and MBS On-line
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mbs
Provides monthly statistics on 50 subjects from over 200 countries and areas, together with special tables illustrating important economic developments. Quarterly data for significant world and regional aggregates are included regularly.
Ten Steps to a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2004/08/27/000160016_20040827154900/Rendered/PDF/296720PAPER0100steps.pdf
This handbook is primarily targeted toward officials who are faced with the challenge of managing for results. Developing countries in particular have multiple obstacles to overcome in building M&E systems. However, as we shall see, results-based M&E systems are a continuous work in progress for both developed and developing countries. As we have learned, when implemented properly these systems provide a continuous flow of information feedback into the system, which can help guide policymakers toward achieving the desired results. Seasoned program managers in developed countries and international organizations?where results-based M&E systems are now in place - are using this approach to gain insight into the performance of their respective organizations.
European Microfinance Actors ? Working in Developing Countries ? Main Topics and Priorities
http://www.ruralfinance.org
This paper begins by stating that microfinance is evolving in terms of scale, professionalism, and significance within development programmes. As a consequence, an increasing number of European entities have entered the microfinance sector or have improved their existing competencies. It argues that this has led to ad hoc initiatives and topical working groups. The paper also notes that national microfinance platforms have recently appeared in several European countries and as a progression from this, the Luxembourg Round Table on Microfinance decided to try to create synergies on a European level.
PRSP Sourcebook
Weblink
The Sourcebook is a guide to assist countries in the development and strengthening of poverty reduction strategies. The Sourcebook reflects the thinking and practices associated with the Comprehensive Development Framework, as well as lessons emerging from the World Development Report on Poverty, and good international practices related to poverty reduction.
International migration, remittances, and the brain drain
http://wdsbeta.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2005/10/21/000012009_20051021094619/Rendered/PDF/339880rev.pdf
Knowledge of the economic effects of migration, especially its impact on economic development, is rather limited. In order to expand knowledge on migration, and identify policies and reforms that would lead to superior development outcomes, this volume presents the results of a first set of studies carried out on the subject. Current demographic trends in both developed and developing countries are pointing toward significant, potential economic gains from migration. The labour forces in many developed countries are expected to peak around 2010, and decline by around 5 percent in the following two decades, accompanied by a rapid increase in dependency ratios. Conversely, the labor forces in many developing countries are expanding rapidly, resulting in declines in dependency ratios. This imbalance is likely to create strong demand for workers in developed countries' labour markets, especially for numerous service sectors that can only be supplied locally. There are large north-south wage gaps, however, especially for unskilled and semiskilled labour.
MDGs: Global Monitoring Report 2005
http://web.worldbank.org
Global Monitoring focuses on how the world is doing in implementing the policies and actions for achieving the MDGs and related development outcomes. It is a framework for accountability in global development policy.
Why transparency is good for business
http://www.brandrepublic.com/bulletins/br/article/528638/why-transparency-good-business/
If agencies want to be seen as business partners instead of suppliers, they need to abandon unprofessional practices such as over-riders, Chris Ingram writes.
OECD: Fostering Innovation in Chile
http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2005doc.nsf/43bb6130e5e86e5fc12569fa005d004c/a11f52dc6ff82fb4c12570af004364b8/$FILE/JT00192825.PDF
This paper by José-Miguel Benavente, Luiz de Mello and Nanno Mulder discusses the main obstacles to innovation activity in Chile and proposes corrective measures. The paper argues that the level of R&D (Research & Development) spending is low and heavily reliant on government funds, owing in part to the fact that risk and venture capital markets are relatively underdeveloped in Chile. At the same time, innovation policy is formulated and implemented in a fragmented manner, which is not conducive to longer-term, strategic planning. Skilled workers and researchers are also in short supply.
Trade Electronic Newsletter
http://econ.worldbank.org
Development Research Group, Volume 4, Issue 33, Winter 2005,
Special Issue on International Migration and Remittances
Tacis Small and medium enterprise (SME)
http://www.tacisinfo.ru/en/broc/en_pdf.htm
The Tacis technical dissemination project has edited some SME brochures as .pdf files. They were published by the European Commission
- How to prepare a business plan
- Manual on Sales Practices - How to improve the efficiency of your sales forces
- Manual on Marketing Practices - How to introduce marketing in SMEs
- Restructuring and industrial co-operation: the wood processing industry example
- Costing methods for decision making: Modern management accounting practices
- Some examples of successful restructuring experiences
- Banks and SME
- New directions in tourism - Tacis-supported tourism development projects in the NIS
Russian versions are available as well.
UNCTAD's Information Economy Report 2005
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/WebFlyer.asp?intItemID=3591&lang=1
The Report shows that, while in some developing regions the number of Internet users has grown substantially, overall the gap between developed and developing countries remains wide. And the quality of connections is just as important as their number. While some countries have seen spectacular growth in broadband access, there are still large variations worldwide. The Report also examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the economic performance and trade competitiveness of developing countries. There is an urgent need to explore policies and best practices to help enterprises use ICT to enhance their competitiveness. Strategies are needed to ease the transition of developing countries to an information economy, in which the role of ICT extends beyond e-commerce to embrace a broad range of social and economic manifestations, including the Internet and e-business. ICT policy frameworks profoundly affect growth, productivity, employment and business performance. The Report also explores policy options that developing countries might consider in order to maximize the contribution of ICT-based business and commerce applications to their national development goals.
EC Eastern Europe and Central Asia Mailing and Distribution System
http://www.eu-cooperation.info
The EuropeAid Co-operation Office of the European Commission has built up a database of contacts interested in receiving regular information and updates on European Union activities in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. This includes communicating on political events, news, features on Tacis projects, and highlighting forthcoming events such as political visits, key conferences and seminars. You can subscribe to the database on-line.
First global study of high expectation entrepreneurship [22 November 2005]
http://www.gemconsortium.org/download.asp?fid=444
The first global study published by the global entrepreneurship monitor of high expectation entrepreneurship has found that just 9.8% of the world's entrepreneurs expect to create almost 75% of the job generated by new business ventures. The report defines high expectation entrepreneurship as all start-ups and newly formed businesses which expect to employ at least 20 employees within five years. These ventures have far reaching consequences for the economies in which they operate, particularly because of their impact on job creation and innovation.
Mapping the shift in Business Development Services. Making markets work for the poor
http://www.developmentbookshop.com/detail.aspx?ID=506
A new book from Malcolm Harper and Jim Tanburn illustrates the radical changes that have taken place in the evolution of assistance to small businesses. The editors show how the transformation has taken place and illustrate some of the critical issues that are facing business development practitioners today.
Trading on Time
http://www.doingbusiness.org/Main/Trade.aspx
A new study from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) entitled ''Trading on Time'' concludes that delaying export hurts the economies of developing countries. Released in January 2006, the study introduces new trade research based on the data provided from the Doing Business in 2006: Creating Jobs report â?'' an annual report cosponsored by the IFC and the World Bank. The new study finds that each day of delays reduces a country's export volumes by about 1 percent. For example, if Burkina Faso reduced its factory-to-ship time from 71 days to 27 days (the median for the sample), exports may increase by nearly 45 percent. Similarly, if the Central African Republic reduced its median factory-to-ship time fro m 116 days to 27 days, exports would nearly double.
Reforming Development Assistance: Lessons from the UK Experience
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/aideffectiveness/rc/ItemDetail.do~1050820?intcmp=700
Since its creation in 1997, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) has been recognized as a global leader in development. Described by the Economist as being ??a model for other rich countries??.
14. Websites of the Month
DOCON 2006 Directory of Consulting Firms
http://www.docon.info
The DOCON is a list of consulting firms active in international development cooperation, sorted by country of origin or registration. Direct links take you to their Websites. Here you can find consultants, consortium partners or employers. This information is compiled from public short-list of the World Bank, the ADB, the EuropeAid Coordination Office, consulting associations and other public sources. Karsten Weitzenegger Consulting keep the list as reliable as possible. You can also add companies to the directory.
itrain Online - an online resource for using the Internet
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/elearning/rc/ItemDetail.do~358028?intcmp=907&intcmp=907
Six international organizations have joined forces to create ItrainOnline, a technology resource centre for people who want to learn how to use the Internet effectively for social justice and sustainable development. ItrainOnline responds to the need to bring such resources together in one place - an interactive multilingual website containing the best and most relevant computer and Internet training content. Topics covered range from computer and Internet basics to more advanced subjects such as building online communities and incorporating audio and video into websites. The site also includes training events and educational resources for Internet trainers.
Doha Development Agenda Trade Capacity Building Database (TCBDB)
http://tcbdb.wto.org/
The TCBDB has been established by the WTO jointly with the OECD to provide information on trade-related technical assistance and capacity building projects. It covers national as well as regional projects. It is an on-going activity and the 2005 Joint WTO/OECD Report on Trade-Related Technical Assistance and Capacity Building was circulated in December 2005. At present, the period of coverage is 2001 to 2004 and partial 2005 and beyond. Data is reported from bilateral donors and multilateral/regional Agencies. A search of the database can be performed either by trade category or beneficiary country or donor country or agency. The statistical analysis option allows quantitative analysis of trade capacity building data by these categories.
The Alternative Finance Website
http://www.alternative-finance.org.uk/en/
This is another example of e-learning on microfinance. The definitive source of 'grey literature' and information on all aspects of alternative and microfinance in English and Spanish. It is possible to search and download microfinance literature in pdf, rtf, html and text formats. This enables easy access to the information and makes it simple to download what you need no matter what system you are using. The website provides a forum for MFI practitioners and researchers and gives improved access to applied research, provides innovative microfinance training tools, and facilitates the exchange and dissemination of development finance resources. And in partnership with the Rural Finance Learning Centre they offer a new distance learning microfinance e-learning training programme.
The MIX MARKET?, by The MIX (Microfinance Information eXchange)
http://www.mixmarket.org/ The global information exchange for the microfinance industry
The MIX Market strives to facilitate exchange and investments flows, promote transparency and improve reporting standards in the microfinance industry Create a free MIX Market membership account to take advantage of the site?s customizable features.
EQxIS for social development data in Latin America
http://www.iadb.org/xindicators
The IDB has launched an initiative which measures progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The system, called EQxIS, helps to identify disparities in achievement of development goals among different groups of the population.
Estimations for four points in time starting from 1990 to the latest available year, use microdata from the Household Surveys Databank of the MECOVI Program and definitions of indicators from the United Nations for monitoring the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Indicators are disaggregated by income quintile, gender, urban/rural area and race/ethnicity to help identify discrepancies in the achievement of development goals within different groups of population. Statistical significance and methodological details on definitions, methods of calculation, relevant facts about sources of information and complete access to the programs for calculating the indicators are included throughout the website.
Projects of the European Investment Bank
http://www.eibprojects.org/
The European Investment Bank, the most secretive multilateral bank of all, puts more money in big projects around the world than any other public bank. Information on these projects is rarely accessible. Find out from this new web site which projects in Asia, Africa, the Mediterranea and Latin America are financed by the EIB! You can browse by sector or by country and we invite you to send us information on the impact of these projects.
A-Z Freight Gateway
http://www.azfreight.com
Links to hundreds of airline cargo companies and dozens of freight forwarders and package delivery services. If you ship a lot for your business, you should bookmark this site. At the home page, click on ''Track and Trace'' in the left column, and you'll find the list of links. You can also click on ''Country Index'' to find shipping professionals in countries worldwide. (Source: FITA)
Trade Information Center
http://www.trade.gov/td/tic/
The TIC of the U.S. Department of Commerce has links to information that U.S. (and other) exporters will find valuable, including: country and regional trade statistics; trade agreements; tariff and import fees by country; worldwide trade events listings; industry- specific information on U.S. exports; explanations of free trade agreements; exporting guides; trade leads; and much more. (Source: FITA)
Industrial Search - Thomas Global
http://www.thomasglobal.com
The most complete, up-to-date directory of global industrial suppliers and product information. Browse through our detailed list of industrial products and services to access companies within these and many other categories. (Source: FITA)
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