ATI Magazine August-September 2015 issue

Bringing more SMEs into global markets – The Geneva-based International Trade Centre (funded by WTO and UN) is working to remove barriers preventing SMEs from entry to global markets. One of these barriers, the ITC says, is  ‘private standards’ being established by the private sector, especially major buyers like supermarkets and hypermarkets.

Employers have rights, too – the International Chamber of Commerce has adopted a Bill of Rights that will see its member Chambers lobbying governments across the world to defend what they call the rights of the entrepreneur. Workers’ rights have gone too far, they say, and this will see investment capital dry up unless something is done.

Boiling the frog, cooling dissent in Singapore

A matter of trust - Alibaba has launched two new products for customers in Australia -- a Trade Assurance programme that provides compensation when a transaction goes wrong, and a venture providing short-term working capital for customers.

Towards Project 2025 – Singapore, Australia to forge Closer Strategic Partnership.

Where’s the value? - The WTO says the private sector is being ignored in a rash of new trade deals, with business having to pick up the pieces around issues like conflicting rules of origin.

In search of capital - The US made a mistake in not joining China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, says US business leader Terry McGraw.

Re-inventing an economy - Thailand is offering a raft of incentives to companies setting up International Headquarters in Bangkok, which is repositioning as a service centre for Indo-China.

Where now for commodities? - The World Bank says the jury is still out on where commodities prices will go, but the ‘super cycle’ has ended.

Chinese travellers – Where they spend, what they spend and what they expect.