-- a Commonwealth Perspective

Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs)

Delegates welcomed the conception of COMBINET as a network of Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce and urged the Commonwealth Secretariat to continue its efforts to support its realization In addition to current efforts supporting the linking of these chambers into the network of the International Chamber of Commerce and the G77 Chambers of Commerce, the delegates recommended that the Commonwealth Secretariat also support:

• The completion of a survey of all Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce to define current status and identify needs for support and capacity-building.

• The adoption or adaptation by the Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce of internationally accepted standards for the accumulation, transmission and dissemination of trade and investment information.

• The encouragement of all Commonwealth agents in trade and investment promotion to undertake the responsibility to validate trade and business opportunities.

• The development of a Commonwealth Seal of Approval that would be granted to Chambers of Commerce and other trade promotion agencies that continue to provide trade information of high quality and reputation.

• The implementation of Education and Training programmes to create awareness among Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) of the use of ICTs which would be appropriate to trade development.