IGNOU : M.COM : IBO 1 : UNIT 20 : Q - 4. What are the objectives of Trade Point Programe of U.N?

 

Ans.  GLOBAL TRADE POINT NETWORK (GTPN)

Under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Trade Efficiency Initiative was launched in February, 1992. The main objective of this initiative is to open international trade to new participants, especially the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), by simplifying and harmonizing trade procedures worldwide and by giving traders access to advanced technologies and information networks. The Trade Point programme is a key component of this initiative.

The Global Trade Point Network (GTPN) was officially launched by the UNCTAD delegates at the United Nations International Symposium on Trade Efficiency held in Columbus, Ohio, USA during October 1994. The programme has four major objectives:

·        Make international trade transactions more efficient by simplifying and standardizing the trade process.

·        Make current and prospective international traders more effective by providing them with easy access to trade information, facilitation of services, information technologies, network, and support training.

·        Promote new commercial partnerships between international traders through the creation of electronic information and communication links and through the addition of new international trade participants.

·        Increase awareness of existing and potential international traders to new trading opportunities and techniques offered by advances in trade information, technology, and attendant international standards.

 

To accomplish these objectives, the programme envisages setting up of Trade Points in all regions of the world. The Trade Points are to serve as trade information centers, and trade facilitation gateways to global networking. As trade information centers, they will provide impartial, timely, and accurate information on all aspects of trade transactions. As trade facilitation gateways, they will provide services to SMEs in the pre-transaction, transaction, and post-transaction phases of the trade cycle. As gateways to the Global Trade Point Network, the Trade Points will allow traders to access relevant trade information from several international sources. The Trade Points bring together all providers of services required to make a commercial transaction: customs, foreign trade institutions, freight forwarders, transport companies, banks and insurance firms. The design of each Trade Point is undertaken locally as per UNCTAD guidelines.