The Export Development Board (EDB), the apex body for promoting and developing the local export sector, came under spotlight at World Trade Promotions Awards 2022 (WTPO), as it bagged the runner-up title for inclusive and sustainable trade.

The EDB was recognised for demonstrating competency and excellence internationally under the category of Best Initiative for Inclusive and Sustainable Trade for its SME Export Coaching programme, which was conducted in late 2021.

WTPA 2022 was announced at the World Trade Promotion Organisations Conference and Awards in Accra, Ghana, on May 17.

This year’s award ceremony recognised innovative programmes launched by trade promotion organisations that helped small firms to benefit from opportunities in international trade at a time of uncertainty. The organisations had to demonstrate that their initiatives assisted micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to become competitive in international markets.

The EDB emerged as the runner-up after going through three highly competitive rounds of selection. The other trade promotion organisations that were nominated under the same category for the final round were from South Korea, the Netherlands, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimtrade – Zimbabwe was judged as the winner.

The award-winning SME Export Coaching programme was implemented last year by the EDB – Regional Development division. The effort was rolled out for 25 selected, export-ready SMEs that were registered under the EDB – New Exporter Development Programme. The aim was to aid them to develop their capacities to enter the export market.

Under this initiative, individual coaching sessions on export marketing planning were conducted by 11 EDB officers. The SMEs were then guided by the EDB officers to develop their export marketing, which was evaluated by an external evaluation panel with details of their funding requirements to obtain the services that are identified as key to expand their businesses internationally.  

The panel selected the 10 best export marketing plans and the winners were granted financial assistance by the EDB to implement their next stages of development, according to their proposed export marketing plans. Following this programme, SMEs identified export market entry requirements and the programme improved rural development, with farmer clusters getting developed as a supply base. It also brought opportunities to women and youth in rural areas.

The World Trade Promotion Awards, open to all national trade promotion organisations, is organised by the International Trade Centre (ITC) as a biannual event to recognise outstanding trade promotion organisations that excel in export development initiatives.