BROCHURE: ISTIA for Developed and Developing Countries  

BROCHURE: ISTIA for OECD countries

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISTIA among International Statistical Bodies

ISTIA listed by the

International Statistical Institute (ISI)

ISTIA has been listed by the International Statistical Institute (ISI) in the ISI Directory of Official Statistical Organizations, in light of the importance of ISTIA work to capacity building of official statistical measurement by governments of trade-in-services.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
UNCTAD Statistics on Trade in Services
 

 

 

 

 

ISTIA work seeks to increase transparency of services trade-related information for all WTO Member economies, especially developing country and least-developed (LDC) economies.  At present, such level-of-detail is only possible between the U.S. and selected countries; the U.S. government, through the Bureau of Economic Analysis is presently collects the most detailed level of service-related trade information, using statuatory business reporting modalities modeled on best-practices of OECD as a part of their Balance of Payments/National Accounts information surveys submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 

ISTIA
avenue de-Budé 8
CH-1215 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel:  
+33 7 51 51 04 19

Email: info@servicestrade.org

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS ISTIA

ISTIA is a capacity building agency for services trade statistics (trade-in-services data)

ISTIA helps governments improve services trade data collection for better trade negotiations

ISTIA trains users of services trade statistics how to use services trade data for negotiations and analysis

 

ISTIA, the International Services Trade Information Agency is an international agency, based in Geneva, with the mandate of providing training and technical assistance on the topic of services trade information, to developing countries, LCD, economies-in-transition, being WTO Members, or acceding WTO Members. 

 

The Mandate of ISTIA Capacity Building Comprises:  Services Trade Information Capacity Building at the national level for Developing Country WTO Members and Acceding Members to the WTO. This comprises the provision of training to national agencies empowered by their respective governments to collect information, usually national accounts based statistics, on services related trade. The objective of this training is to allow statistical agencies to collect information that is more rich in character, that provides greater depth and allows for deeper interpretation by trade negotiators, government officials and the private sector.  WTO Negotiator Training in the use of Services Trade Information, especially for developing economies, least-developed economies (LDCs) and economies in transition.  Services Trade Information Co-ordination and Information-Sharing at the International Level – This will comprise, inter alia, cooperation with national statistical agencies, inter-governmental agencies, national trade negotiation agencies and outside experts will be sought, with a view towards providing a world-class solution to the need for services trade information enhancement vis-ŕ-vis technical assistance and capacity building

 

The Clients of ISTIA Capacity Building Comprise:  Services Trade Negotiators from Developing and Least Developed Countries: Being persons with a proven need for assistance in the area of services trade information, most specifically statistical-related information for their use in bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations.  Statisticians from in national offices of Developing and Least Developed Countries: who may seek guidance in exploring new means for collecting services trade statistics in a manner which yields richer and more useful services trade and FDI statistics.  Policymakers and Government Officials from Developing and Least Developed Countries: Many of whom are interested in improving services trade statistics for the purposes of major policymaking decisions. The involvement of such persons is crucial; national policy coherence in any capacity building efforts has been correlated with long term sustainability and positive outcomes.

 

The Tools of ISTIA Capacity Building Comprise: International and regional best practices: Providing a synthesis of OECD, WTO, IMF, and highperforming national statistical offices with longtime experience in collection of services trade statistics.  Interdisciplinary Approach: Making statistics seem easy to non-statistical persons, and introducing the new services trade statistics policy framework, including FDI to non-policymakers, being statisticians.  Building a competence base: For the implementation of this process in many developing countries and LDCs.  Providing a forum: For statisticians being official of national governments, to exchange experiences and share advice, with other developing country partners as well as developed country statistical officials.

 

ISTIA focuses on BRICs in 2023-2024

ISTIA seeks project-work in BRIC countries

 

The theme for the 15th BRICS Summit was “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism”.  This theme informs South Africa’s five priorities for 2023: developing a partnership towards an equitable just transition, including managing the risks associated with climate change; transforming education and skills development for the future; unlocking opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Area; strengthening post-pandemic socioeconomic recovery and the attainment of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development; and strengthening multilateralism, including reform of global governance institutions and strengthening the meaningful participation of women in peace processes. The BRICS countries, Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa, convene for a BRICS Leaders’ Summit annually.

 

ISTIA has made note of the ITC/UNCTAD-WTO's BRICS Trade in Services Report 2022.

ISTIA seeks to help the BRICS to enhance data-collection modalities for services trade.

 

BROCHURE: ISTIA for BRICS

 

ISTIA attends the OECD Global Trade Forum 2023, 3 October 2023

ISTIA has been attending OECD meetings since 2006

 

Making Digital Trade Work For All - Paris, France | 3 October 2023

The aim of this Global Forum on Trade is to promote an evidence-based multistakeholder dialogue on how we can collectively make digital trade work for all. 

The digital transformation is changing how and what we trade. This gives rise to new opportunities for firms of all sizes to internationalise; for individuals, including women entrepreneurs, to be more actively involved in trade transactions; and for countries at all levels of development to participate and benefit from trade. However, the benefits of digitalisation for trade are not automatic. The digital transformation also raises new challenges, such as growing digital fragmentation, rising competitive pressures and concentration of economic activities, supply chain disruptions, and challenges in ensuring greater inclusiveness for all people.

 

 

ISTIA attended the 12th WTO Ministerial in Geneva in June 2022

ISTIA is an NGO in consultative status to the World Trade Organisation, since 2016

 

WTO agrees fishing, food and Covid vaccine deals    Touch and go at the WTO. Is the director-general's optimism justified? –  Trade β Blog

 

ISTIA and United Nations

  ISTIA in the UN Civil Society Network
   
 

 

Civil Society Network, comprising United Nations entities and Civil Society and NGOs working towards United Nations development agenda goals.

 

   
 

 

ISTIA is an NGO functioning in an intergovernmental capacity providing services trade statistics capacity building.

 

 

ISTIA is accredited to the 11th WTO Ministerial in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 10-13 December 2017

ISTIA is an NGO in consultative status to the World Trade Organisation, since 2016

ISTIA is an NGO in consultative status to the World Trade Organisation, since 2016

 

AT UNCTAD 14 PREPCOM

Statement of the Ambassador Julian Braithwaite (UK), WTO Chair for Council on Trade in Services

"Without good data, the task in front of us becomes exponentially harder."

 

"Conventional trade data (including in the UK’s Office of National Statistics’ services exports data) underestimates the importance of services because it only captures the first two Modes of Supply (cross-border supply and consumption abroad) but does not include Modes 3 and 4.

 

 We also face the issue of services being embedded in goods for example the design and engineering components of technology, the marketing of a product or even the after-sale maintenance which are rarely captured.

 

This is a fundamental problem if we are to work towards achieving the SDGs as good policymaking is dependent on being able to fully understand the challenges facing us. Without good data, the task in front of us becomes exponentially harder."

Part of the opening session-statement delivered by Ambassador Julian Braithwaite, Chair of the WTO Council on Trade in Services, at the UNCTAD Multi-Year Expert Meeting on Trade, Services and Development on 18 July 2017.
 

ISTIA's participation at the

UNCTAD Multi-Year Expert Meeting on Services, Development and Trade, (5th Session)
The Regulatory and Institutional Dimension
   Geneva, 
18-20 July 2017

 

Between 18-20 July 2017, the Multi-year Expert Meeting on Trade, Services and Development was held in accordance with the decision of the Trade and Development Board taken at its thirty-first special session, held on 5 April 2017. The objective of the multi-year expert meeting was to provide enhanced understanding on the potential of the services economy and trade, particularly infrastructure services, for economic transformation, growth, poverty eradication and job creation, and on the multidimensional importance of these linkages as levers for achieving inclusive and sustainable development. It aimed to provide tools for participants to identify best-fit, coherent and comprehensive services policy, regulatory and institutional approaches to facilitate engagement in trade negotiations and international cooperation at the multilateral and regional levels so as to maximize the development potential of services in national economies.

Participant List  Programme

 

ISTIA and the WTO

 ISTIA is Accredited to the World Trade Organization

On 19 July 2017, ISTIA was re-accredited to the WTO.  ISTIA's first application for Accreditation to the World Trade Organization was accepted on 17 July 2016.  This accreditation was requested in light of Art. V.2 of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization, whereby it was stated that “The General Council may make appropriate arrangements for consultation and cooperation with non-governmental organizations concerned with matters related to those of the WTO.” ISTIA further noted that in 2015, the General Council recognized that Members recognized “the role NGOs can play to increase the awareness of the public in respect of WTO activities” by creating a framework for cooperation which would “improve transparency and develop communication with NGOs”. Relations between the WTO and Civil Society were further clarified in a Decision adopted by the General Council on 18 July 1996.  ISTIA looks forward to providing services statistics capacity building to WTO Members, especially to developing country Members , LDC (least developed country) Members and LLDC (land locked developing country) Members.

 

ISTIA is honored to have represented at the

Preparatory meeting for UNCTAD XIV, Salle XXVI, 26 May 2016

 

ISTIA intervention to UNCTAD 2nd Meeting on Civil Society:  describes the how ISTIA Work addresses Sustainable Development Goal no. 17: “Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development”.  As ISTIA addresses services trade statistical capacity building, ISTIA addresses SDG 17 "subgoal" 17.9Capacity building: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation, SDG 17 "subgoal" 17.10Trade: Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda, and SDG 17 "subgoal" 17.9Data, monitoring and accountability as a systemic issue: By 2030,  build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries.

 

ISTIA was honored to be accredited to the UNCTAD XVI Ministerial in Nairobi, Kenya

 

ISTIA is accredited to attend UNCTAD 14 in Nairobi, to discuss the contributions of ISTIA work to Sustainable Development Goal 17, to Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development”.  ISTIA seeks to show support for Agenda 2030's United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development which are to launch "FROM DECISION TO ACTION".

UNCTAD 14

UNCTAD 14 Programme UNCTAD 14 Documents  UNCTAD 14 Blog (EN) UNCTAD 14 Blog (ES) UNCTAD 14 Blog (FR)

 

ISTIA was proud to be invited to the

 Civil Society Meeting with the UNCTAD Secretary-General in Geneva

 

 

On 3 October 2013, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, the new Secretary-General of UNCTAD, welcomed over 30 civil society leaders to UNCTAD Geneva.  ISTIA was pleased to have been invited to the first meeting between Dr. Kituyi and civil society representatives since he took office in September.  This was an opportunity for all civil society leaders to exchange views with the Secretary General at the very start of his term.  At the commencement of the meeting, Dr. Kituyi praised the role played by civil society organizations in promoting socially just economic development, and said that he wanted to see civil society organizations contributing to UNCTAD meetings at the highest level. 

 

In his opening speech at the meeting, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi highlighted the "phenomenal" expertise - particularly in global trade and development within Geneva-based international and civil society organizations.   Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi recalled that as Minister of Trade of Kenya, he formalized the role of civil society representatives in the country's trade delegation, so that involving civil society in government trade and development affairs was "a duty and not a favour". 

 

At the opening session of this year's Trade and Development Board he said: "Civil society's hands-on experience of development on the ground, their effective policy advocacy, and their ability to galvanize action, make them natural partners of UNCTAD."

 

Read the full address here

 

 

ISTIA is honored to represent as a delegation to the

Meeting of the Group of Experts on National Accounts

UN Palais des Nations, Geneva, Salle XI, 17-20 May 2016

 

UN Economic Commission for Europe

Special Session for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, South East Europe and other interested countries

Expert Group on National Accounts

Country experience with surveys, data collection and compilation techniques, Global Production Research Agenda, Exchange of economic data and data sharing, Global accounts and analytical use of SUT, Use of Statistical Units in National Accounts

Link to the meeting can be found here:  Meeting of the Group of Experts on National Accounts

 

ISTIA was honored to be accredited to the 10th WTO Ministerial in Nairobi, Kenya

 

ISTIA is honored to be accredited to the

UNCTAD TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD, Sixty-second session,

UN Palais des Nations Room XXV Geneva, 14-25 September 2015

 

UN Conference on Trade and Development

Integrating the Trade Dimension into United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks

High-level segment: Development strategies in a globalized world Multilateral processes for managing sovereign external debt, Role of women as catalyst for trade and development, Interdependence: Financialization and macroeconomic fragility in the global economy, Contribution of UNCTAD to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020: Fourth progress report, Economic development in Africa: Unlocking the potential of Africa's services trade for growth and development Evolution of the international trading system and its trends from a development perspective - The role of small holder farmers in sustainable commodities production and trade Investment for development: Reforming the international investment regime Preparatory process for the fourteenth session of the Conference: Establishment of the Preparatory Committee Approval of the provisional agenda of the Conference UNCTAD contributions to the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields Technical cooperation activities Review of the technical cooperation activities of UNCTAD Report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian people Report of the Seventh United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices Follow-up to the Joint Inspection Unit report and the agreed conclusions of the twenty-sixth special session of the Trade and Development Board.    UNCTAD Meeting page

Programme of Meetings

14 September | 15 September  | 16 September  | 17 September  | 18 September  | 21 September  |

 22 September  | 24 September  | 25 September  |Summary |  Presentations from the Meeting.  | Participant list

 

ISTIA appreciated the ICTSD-World Trade Institute

New Horizons in Services Trade Governance.

25 November 2014 to 26 November 2014. World Trade Organisation, Room S1. 0. 6

This conference addressed several issues currently at the forefront of the rapidly evolving role that services are playing in the 21st century world economy. In various panel discussions, experts presented findings from selected chapters of a forthcoming Research Handbook on Services Trade to be published by Edward Elgar. Organised by ICTSD and WTI.

The ICTSD-WTI Session can be viewed on Youtube.

 

ISTIA appreciated the ICTSD

TRADE IN SERVICES AGREEMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION AND DISCUSSION

TISA: Trade in Services Agreement Public Information Session and Discussion

30 April 2014, Centre Varumbe, CCIG Centre Conference International Geneva, Room A, 18:30 - 20.00

This Public Information Session provides a forum for discussion outside the formal negotiating environment. Speakers will present an overview of the objectives and main elements of the TISA negotiations, the progress that has been made to date as well as perspectives on new approaches to services negotiations. - See more at: http://ictsd.org/i/events/dialogues/187823/#sthash.VM9VCULK.dpuf
This Public Information Session provides a forum for discussion outside the formal negotiating environment. Speakers will present an overview of the objectives and main elements of the TISA negotiations, the progress that has been made to date as well as perspectives on new approaches to services negotiations. - See more at: http://ictsd.org/i/events/dialogues/187823/#sthash.VM9VCULK.dpuf

This ICTSD forum provided discussion basis for goverment officials from several TISA government countries, speakers included trade Ambassadors from Colombia, the United States, Australia, Turkey  and the European Union.  Discussions provided an overview of the objectives of the TISA negotiations and described progress made to date, also addressing some new approaches to services negotiations. 

The ICTSD Session can be viewed on Youtube.

 

WHITHER GATS? 

Could a lack of services trade statistics be hindering services trade negotiations?

Services trade statistics capacity building: A need, a focus, a plan of action

ISTIA's presentation on services trade statistics capacity building can be viewed here

 

ISTIA is proud to attend the the

Discussion Forum: "Why Trade Matters in Development Strategies"

UN Palais des Nations, Geneva, Room XXV, 27-29 November 2013

 

UN Conference on Trade and Development

Part of a series on

Integrating the Trade Dimension into United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks

Special keynote address by Amina J. Mohamed, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Post-2015 Planning

 

ISTIA was proud to be invited to the

 Civil Society Meeting with the UNCTAD Secretary-General in Geneva

 

 

On 3 October 2013, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, the new Secretary-General of UNCTAD, welcomed over 30 civil society leaders to UNCTAD Geneva.  ISTIA was pleased to have been invited to the first meeting between Dr. Kituyi and civil society representatives since he took office in September.  This was an opportunity for all civil society leaders to exchange views with the Secretary General at the very start of his term.  At the commencement of the meeting, Dr. Kituyi praised the role played by civil society organizations in promoting socially just economic development, and said that he wanted to see civil society organizations contributing to UNCTAD meetings at the highest level. 

 

In his opening speech at the meeting, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi highlighted the "phenomenal" expertise - particularly in global trade and development within Geneva-based international and civil society organizations.  Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi recalled that as Minister of Trade of Kenya, he formalized the role of civil society representatives in the country's trade delegation, so that involving civil society in governmental trade and development affairs was a "duty and not a favor".

 

ISTIA is proud to have observer-status at the

61st Plenary Session of the Conference of European  Statisticians

UN Economic Commission for Europe, 10-12 June 2013

 

Economic and Social Council

Including Work of the High-level Group on the Modernization of Statistical Production and Services

Proposals for 2014 Seminars

Progress of the Task Force for Climate Change

Participant List for 61st Plenary CES Meeting

 

ISTIA participation at 8th WTO Ministerial

8th WTO Ministerial meeting in Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2011

                       

The Seventh Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 November to 2 December 2009. The general theme for discussion shall be The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System and the Current Global Economic Environment .

ISTIA Accreditation to the 8th WTO Ministerial Meeting

 

ISTIA and UN Expert Meetings

 

UN Multi-Year Expert Meeting on Services, Development and Trade

(3rd Session)
The Regulatory and Institutional Dimension
   Geneva, 17-19 March 2010

 

ISTIA is the the only international agency working in the area of  WTO-related Services Trade Statistics Capacity Building.  In March 2010,  ISTIA was honored to be invited to participate to attend the 3rd Session of the UN Multi-Year Expert Group on Services, Development and Trade, held in the UN Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.  The principal meeting focus concerned  services-related egulatory and institutional frameworks of developing country governments, especially African countries, least developed countries (LDCs)  and countries with special needs, such as economies-in-transition. Discussions focused on strengthening domestic services capacity,  increasing services efficiency and enhancing competitiveness; also strengthening export capacity.  A special focus was placed on the Accra Accord.
 

 Key Issues | Notification | Agenda | Programme | Documents | SummaryParticipant list
Report of the Meeting | Overview | Programme Timetable | UNCTAD documents
Presentations [Audio] | Presentations [Text] |Contributions [Text]

 

ISTIA participation at WTO Ministerial

7th WTO Ministerial meeting in Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009

                       

The Seventh Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 November to 2 December 2009. The general theme for discussion shall be The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System and the Current Global Economic Environment .

ISTIA in the MC-7 Programme

ISTIA Accreditation to 7th WTO Ministerial Meeting

 

ISTIA in the Gulf

ISTIA-GOIC MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING


 

SERVICES DRIVE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH
ISTIA-GOIC Alliance aimed at Building Capacity on Trade, FDI & Globalization Measurement for GCC - March 6, 2007
(Press release) (Gulf Times Article) (AmeInfo Article)

 

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed on Tuesday 6th of March 2007, in Doha Qatar, between Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) and the Geneva-based agency International Services Trade Information Agency (ISTIA). Signing the MOU, was H.E. Dr. Ahmed Khalil Al Mutawa, GOIC Secretary General, and Ms. Jennifer M. Powell, ISTIA Executive Director.

v

This is a strategic partnership between GOIC and ISTIA. It is aimed at assisting the GCC countries towards building capacity to measure globalization data such as trade-in-services crucial information for World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations as well as foreign direct investment (FDI), operations of FDI-related enterprises, cross-border joint-ventures (JV), and transfers of technology via FDI or strategic alliances. In the context of a more global and integrated world economy, such information is crucial for both GCC governments, as well as the private sector.

 

Developing the capacity to gather such information at the national level will give the GCC countries the tools necessary to successfully measure, understand and plan strategically for requirements of a more global and integrated world economy. GCC governments require  training so as to better-collect data so that negotiators are best-prepared to negotiate in the WTO under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), as well as in other bilateral trade and investment negotiations.  In addition to training governments how to collect data, trade-negotiators, diplomats and other high-level government officials could benefit from training so as to 'bridge the gap' between the new globalization data framework and their decision-making activities.

 

In the new millennium, services are instrumental components of industrial activities; previously, services and industrial business activities were viewed as distinct and separate. The modern global economy views services and industrial activity as symbiotic and integrated for two principal reasons. Firstly, because businesses require efficient services sectors such as transportation and communications for domestic or import/export commercial operations. Secondly, modern business models no longer view companies as strictly services-only or industrial-only. In the 21st century, many companies which used to be famous for only selling goods, now also sell services as separate products; one example of this is Hewlett Packard, a former hardware-only firm which now sells consulting, business integration and other services as stand-alone products. Services also make up a significant share of the GDP for all countries in the world; developed country GDP is usually 70-85% services-driven, while developing country GDP figures are generally 35-70% services-based.

 

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a part of the WTO GATS agreement, and in this light, measurement of FDI on a basis which allows sectoral and partner country identification is of crucial importance. Successful ISTIA collaboration seeks to facilitate the public and private sectors of GCC countries to operate in a manner most proactive and strategic in relation to globalization affairs.

 
 

ISTIA and the OECD

 ISTIA at the OECD-WTO "Aid for Trade" Mini-Ministerial

 6-7 November 2006 - Doha, Qatar

 

DIALOGUE ON AID FOR TRADE: From Policy to Practice

Conference attendees comprised senior policy makers from developing and developed countries, aid practitioners from the headquarters and field level, and stakeholders from the private sector, academia and civil society from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.  Discussions addressed Aid for Trade agenda and key challenges for economic, political and implementation.  Donors and partner countries presented experences on Aid for Trade.
                                                       
 Overview |   Sessions |   Agenda |   WTO statement|   Participant list

Programme Day 1 |   Programme Day 2|   Press   

ISTIA presentation to Ministers     (pdf)

 

  EXPERTISE FRANCE* support for ISTIA

ISTIA Technical Assistance

 ISTIA Capacity Building for Government of Vietnam


 

On the eve of the accession of Vietnam as the 150th WTO Member, ISTIA provided an intensive week-long course on Services trade policy and Services trade statistics to officials of the Government of Vietnam.  The course, which took place the first week of October, introduced the use of services trade statistics, foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics and foreign affiliate trade statistics.  The course also addressed the country's new legal framework for investment. Course summary here.

 

 

 

ISTIA gratefully acknowledges funding support from the

Government of FranceMinistry of Finance Employment and Industry (MINEFI),

*ADETEF  a été la l'organisation precursoire de EXPERTISE FRANCE

ISTIA-FRANCE (ADETEF) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

 

 ISTIA and OECD
ISTIA at OECD-EUROSTAT meeting on Trade in Services Statistics
 

ISTIA participated in the OECD-EUROSTAT meeting on Trade in Services and the 7th Meeting on International Trade Statistics, held in Paris 11-15 September 2006.   Participant list here

Summary record of the meeting:

Participants list

 

ISTIA and OECD
Conference on Globalisation and the Knowledge Economy


 

ISTIA participated in the Conference on Globalisation and the Knowledge Economy on 9 October 2006.  The conference convened experts to discuss links between innovation, structural change and productivity growth on the one hand, and the intensification of cross-border economic linkages, drivers and scope for public policy in implementing a national innovation and growth strategy in the global economy.

Organised jointly by the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI) and the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry

 

ISTIA at WTO Ministerial
2005 WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference
 

ISTIA High-Level Expert-group Meeting

13-18 December 2005

COUNTING ON GATS NEGOTIATIONS TO SUCCEED

ICTSD Trade & Development Symposium - WTO Ministerial Meeting side event
Hong Kong Exhibition Centre
 

December 15 2005
Session Agenda and Panel Members
WTO Ministerial ICTSD Schedule

 

ISTIA Seminars

ISTIA Presentation to Government of Afghanistan

 

 

Presented at the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations and WTO, Geneva, Switzerland, October 2005

 

ISTIA and Switzerland

2006 ISTIA Legal Foundation

26 July 2006

 

ISTIA Associated as a Legal Entity in the Republic and Canton of Geneva

Geneva, 28 June 2006 - As WTO trade negotiators work to complete the Doha Round of WTO negotiations, a new international agency arrives with the objective of empowering developing countries in services trade negotiations with better information through statistical capacity building and negotiator training.                      


       
ISTIA registration, Canton-State of Geneva

 

ISTIA Foundation

ISTIA "Launch" as New International Agency
 

June 2006

ISTIA Press Release

As from the end of June 2006, ISTIA, the International Services Trade Information Agency has come into being in Geneva, Switzerland.  ISTIA will function as an international agency, assisting developing country governments with the improvement of national accounts and other information necessary for developing country governments to better negotiate in the World Trade Organization (WTO) services negotiations, known as GATS (the General Agreement on Trade in Services).  ISTIA was founded in response to official requests made by developing country governments, in the WTO and during pre-WTO trade negotiations, for help in this area, for the past 20 years.  At present, developing country WTO trade negotiators do not have useful information which helps them to assess the value of services trade commitments under WTO-GATS, a fact which has hindered WTO-GATS negotiations for all WTO Members.  ISTIA seeks to change this situation for the better.      

I.ISTIA Statutes              II. ISTIA Mandate               III. ISTIA Taxonomy

 

ISTIA and International Statistics Bodies

ISTIA Pariticipates in IARIW Conference, Joensuu, Finland
August 2006

ISTIA participated in the International Association for Research on Income and Wealth in Joensuu, Finland.  Conferences of special interest concerned FDI and the relationship of national accounts

 

ISTIA and International Statistics Bodies

ISTIA and Voorburg Group
August 2006

ISTIA was invited to the 2006 Voorburg Group in October 2006.  The Voorburg is the consortia of national statistical agencies and experts involved in setting services statistics standards.  The Voorburg Group is responsible for having drafted the Central Product Classification (CPC) system, which is the standard used by the United Nations Statistical Division; the CPC is the model upon which the WTO GATS 120 list is based;  this is the list of services sectoral definitions used in WTO services trade negotiations. Link to more info

 

ISTIA cancels IRS exempt application

ISTIA Withdrawal of U.S. Treasury Exempt Application
14 December 2008

ISTIA CANCELLATION. With a view towards retention of neutrality, ISTIA has cancelled the IRS-Treasury application for recognition as a foreign-based association, rendered in February 2007, to the IRS Exempt office in Cincinnati/Kentucky.  This application was a good-faith, non-required application. ISTIA, being  Swiss non-governmental organization operating in an inter-governmental capacity - such as was defined in ISTIA Articles of Association - strives to retain an neutral position, in work, which principally involves government training.  Application was made with a view toward opening an ISTIA office in Washington, D.C., an interest which has also been cancelled.  For further information, persons are welcome to contact ISTIA directly.

 

Contact ISTIA

 

ISTIA

avenue de Budé 8, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel : 
+33 7 51 51 04 19

Email: info@servicestrade.org