ESCAP/ITC TO CONDUCT 'MATCHMAKING' SEMINAR FOR DEVELOPMENT BANKS AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCIES

Press Release
REC/94

ESCAP/ITC TO CONDUCT 'MATCHMAKING' SEMINAR FOR DEVELOPMENT BANKS AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCIES

Meeting to Focus on Promoting Export-oriented Joint Ventures And Finding Appropriate Regional Partners for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises

BANGKOK, 24 July (UN Information Service) -- A "matchmaking” seminar focusing on promotion of export-oriented joint ventures and assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in finding joint venture partners will be co- organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) from 31 July to 4 August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

There is considerable interest in a large number of enterprises in Asia- Pacific countries in finding suitable joint venture partners, and to forge strategic alliances with appropriate partners. However, development banks and investment promotion agencies, which are contacted SMEs requesting assistance in finding appropriate partners, often have difficulties responding to such queries due to their lack of experience in joint venture development. Due to the peculiarities of matchmaking procedures and partnership development among enterprises, such agencies are severely constrained in providing this service to SMEs.

At the same time, SMEs in most developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region face great difficulties in embarking on product development programmes for export, and find it increasingly difficult to access the most appropriate technologies available in foreign countries and transfer the know-how effectively. This greatly inhibits the realization of the export potential of the SME sector.

This seminar aims to create awareness of pertinent issues on the development process of international joint-ventures between local companies and partner firms from developed countries; strengthen their capacity in advising clients on technology sourcing and transfer of know-how; and create an awareness of legal issues and intellectual property contained in joint venture agreements and strategic alliances.

The seminar will also address the most important issues pertaining to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its investment-related rules and disciplines, such as trade-related intellectual property, trade-related investment measures and the General Agreement in Trade in Services (GATS). Technical presentations, case studies and group discussions and company visits will be used throughout the programme.

- 2 - Press Release REC/94 24 July 2000

Participants will include staff of development banks, financing institutions and investment promotion agencies in the countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Greater Mekong subregion who have a current or potential responsibility to expand their activities by joint venture promotion.

The five-day programme, entitled “Development, Financing and Promotion of Joint Ventures for SMEs in APEC”, is being presented in cooperation with the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), Manila, and the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Malaysia (ADFIM), Kuala Lumpur, with financial support from the Government of Japan.

For more information, please contact Ravi Sawhney, Director, International Trade and Industry Division, ESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand (tel: (66-2) 288 1956, fax: (66-2) 288 1026 or 1027, or e-mail: trade_inf.unescap@un.org).

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