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ITC helps LDCs turn export opportunities into business by helping their SMEs enter the world trading system, by strengthening the national institutions supporting them, and by fostering competitiveness of firms, sectors and countries. ITC created an LDC Unit.
ITC, with its track record in LDC trade development, is open to new partnerships to help LDCs reach their export potential. A new generation of innovative, energetic and persevering entrepreneurs is emerging. ITC contributes to the Brussels Programme of Action in two specific areas:
- Build productive capacities to make globalization work for LDCs. ITC addresses supply capacity weaknesses, builds capacity of trade support institutions and promotes public-private partnerships.
- Enhance role of trade in development. ITC helps LDCs benefit from market access granted, promotes export diversification and assists in developing human capacities for trade development.
Some inter-agency programmes and ITC initiatives have a strong LDC component, including:
· The Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to LDCs (IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, World Bank, WTO)
· The Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme for Africa (ITC, UNCTAD, WTO)
· The South-South Trade Programme (ITC)
· Buying from Africa for Africa (ITC)
· Export-led Poverty Reduction Programme (ITC)
· World Trade Net Programme (ITC)
· ITC Executive Forum (ITC)
· Trade Maps (ITC)
The Export-led Poverty Reduction Programme (EPRP) of the ITC is aimed at integration of poor communities into international markets.
The EPRP approach rests on two main pillars: (i) the development of the entrepreneurial capacity of the poor with regard to exporting; and (ii) linking that capacity to proven export market opportunities. EPRP projects focus on five sectors based on analysis of demand in regional or international markets and the employment and income-generating potential of these sectors for poor communities. The sectors are:
· Agricultural products (fresh and processed)
· Textiles (fibres and clothing)
· Animal skins leather and leather goods
· Light manufacturing
· Community-based tourism
The viability of proposed projects in the above sectors are assessed via feasibility studies by interested national governments, and together with the ITC, which analyses international market trends, a final project blueprint and action plan is put in place.
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