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Building virtual communities:new strategies to market information

Building virtual communities:new strategies to market information. Bernard Ancel Chief of ITC’s Trade Information Section Email: ancel@itrancen.org. The international context….

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Building virtual communities:new strategies to market information

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  1. Building virtual communities:new strategies to market information Bernard Ancel Chief of ITC’s Trade Information Section Email: ancel@itrancen.org

  2. The international context… • In the context of trade globalization, new markets opportunities are opening but international competition is becoming harder, especially for developing countries (and LDCs!…) • New information and communication technologies (ICTs) offer the possibility, if appropriately used, to bridge ‘information gaps’ and to disseminate information worldwide with limited investments Faced with complex economic and technological challenges, SMEs have to join forces by building up effective Virtual Information Communities (VICs)

  3. What kind of information ?For which audience ? • On export products/services for potential buyers • On market opportunities for potential sellers • On trade events and tourism for potential visitors

  4. What for ? Immediate objective (short- /medium term): To develop attractive WEB sites and efficient complementary services aimed at distributing information and establishing new trade contacts worldwide From contacts to contracts… Development objective (medium-/long term): To develop durable and profitable trade relations (export, import, joint ventures, tourism …)

  5. Designing the right strategy... Define clearly the target audience: business-to-consumers: students, household, collectors... business-to-business: importers, wholesalers,consultants Keep the WEB site attractive and up-to-date Launch active promotion (online and offline) Perform periodic evaluations and revisions

  6. Some examples involving SMEs… The Silk Road programme for 21st century • Initiated by the Korean government (KOTRA) • Covers a huge number of trade leads (over 3 million) from Korean companies and international partners (e.g. over 63,000 just on garments)… • with detailed products catalogs… • and links to e-marketplaces and individual companies’ WEB sites

  7. www.silkroad21.org Powerful search engine Links to market places

  8. Link to company WEB site… Company profile Product catalog Fashion show !

  9. Virtual Art Ltd: marble miniatures

  10. Small countries pooling efforts… The ‘Centramerica’ portal… • An initiative of the private sector • From Guatemala to Panama: 7 countries grouping promotional WEB sites • Covering directories of persons and products • Offering email alert services • Selling books and banners

  11. WWW.CENTRAMERICA.COM Searching directories Eng/Spa Email alert service 7 WEB sites

  12. The CARIB-EXPORT project Totallycaribbean • Initially for CARICOM countries (english-speaking caribbean countries), now covering also Cuba, Dominican Rep., Haiti, Netherlands Antilles, Surinam… (‘CARIFORUM’ group) • Managed by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) with EU support with detailed products catalogs… • Aims at developing buyers-sellers e-communities

  13. www.totallycaribbean.com B2C online shopping B2B wholesale to retail

  14. Totally Caribbean (Cont’d) Travel Tourism Joining a marketplace Forming a group marketplace

  15. Dolls from Haiti

  16. Trade and culture… Africa Online • Based in Nairobi and Abidjan • Disseminate news from many African newspapers • Includes an extensive source directory • Promote African arts and crafts • Offers travel deals • Links to African marketplaces

  17. www.africaonline.com Discussion forum French/ English Business links

  18. Link to www.mbendi.com Info. Provider Consulting Advertising System design

  19. Link to www.kalahari.net Online Shopping mall

  20. G15 initiative for South-South cooperation The Sibexlink WEB site • G15 now includes 19 member countries • Intergovernmental project with business focal points (HQ: Kuala Lumpur) • SIBEXLINK provides daily business news • Country and industry profiles • A comprehensive business directory, • and a wide system of trade opportunities

  21. www.sibexlink.com.my Daily news Online databases

  22. WWW.SIBEXTRADE.COM Offers and demands

  23. The Trade Point Programme Global Trade Point Network • Launched by UNCTAD with ITC support, now managed by a World Federation • Covers some 140 Trade points in 80 countries (public and private sector) • Stimulates the exchange of a large number of electronic trade opportunities (ETOs) • Keeps an online archive of ETOs (offers and demands) and a directory of over 43000 registered companies • Aims at facilitating trade procedures (customs, banks, insurance, transport…)

  24. www.gtpnet-e.com Coop. with other projects List of Trade Points

  25. Company Profile ETO (extract) Subject: DEMAND: [KR] Cheese Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 02:29:23 -0700 Reply-To: oksanintl@hananet.net

  26. The Role of ITC... Promoting trade for the benefit of developing countries… ITC’s activities include: • collection and supply of trade information (and evaluation of relevant information sources) • research on selected markets/products • building up of trade information centres and trade promotion organizations (TPOs) • development of virtual communities to exchange information and know how

  27. WWW.INTRACEN.ORG VICs developed by ITC ITC databases on TPO networks ITC databases on information sources http://www.intracen.org

  28. ITC’s World Tr@de Net Understanding WTO issues! audience : governments and business communities

  29. www.jurisint.org/pub Tools for trade lawyers… In cooperation with Universities (Nancy /Montreal)

  30. www.tradepromotion.org 30 national IT communities From virtual to personal contacts

  31. Development phases of Virtual Information Communities Periodic Evaluation of Impact and Results Negotiations with potential partners and info providers Interconnections with other networks Membership rules Network administration Promotion to potential members (online and ofline) Training programmes/workshops No of members Users’ Needs assessment Design of strategy Launching by a small group of motivated persons Network development Strategic alliances links to other networks Subsequent phases

  32. Thanks for your attention! And best wishes to your virtual projects… Bernard ANCEL email: ancel@intracen.org Web site: www.intracen.org

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