International Trade Centre

What International Trade Centre does

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, established in 1964 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the only multilateral agency fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries, with documented reach across 142 countries. ITC's primary end-users are SMEs, business support organizations, and policymakers in emerging economies, with explicit focus on women entrepreneurs, youth, and migrants/refugees as priority segments.

ITC's offering is organized around three interconnected pillars: (1) Market Data Tools such as Trade Map, Global Trade Helpdesk, Export Potential Map, Investment Map, Market Access Map, Procurement Map, and regional marketplace explorers covering Africa, Asia, and Latin America/Caribbean; (2) Sustainability and Inclusivity Platforms including SheTrades, the GreenToCompete network, the Green Performance Toolkit (launched at COP28), the Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway, Standards Map, and Sustainability Map; and (3) E-learning Platforms anchored by the SME Trade Academy (100+ free courses). Underlying infrastructure includes cross-linked trade statistics databases, voluntary sustainability standards repositories, and free-to-user digital tools provided in multiple languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic).

ITC does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded through voluntary contributions from member states, the European Union, and development partners. All tools and resources are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization operates a sales-led GTM delivered through digital self-serve platforms, regional GreenToCompete Hubs, and institutional partnerships with national governments and trade promotion organizations. It also runs flagship convening events (World Export Development Forum, Global SME Ministerial, T4SD Forum) and cohort-based grant programs such as the WEIDE Fund for women exporters.

Name

International Trade Centre

Legal name

International Trade Centre

Website

https://intracen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint UN-WTO agency that supports SME internationalization in developing countries through free digital trade intelligence tools, e-learning platforms, sustainability programs, and partnerships, serving beneficiaries across 142 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Trade Development

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Digital Policy, Data Governance & Cybersecurity Standards Cooperation (BPADANAH)

Keywords

• Trade intelligence platforms
• SME capacity building
• Export development services
• Market analysis tools
• Trade policy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Assistance Funding: ITC is a UN agency fully dedicated to supporting internationalization of small businesses in developing countries. The organization is funded through voluntary contributions from donor countries, development partners, and international organizations rather than commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations that supports the internationalization of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries. It delivers a portfolio of free digital market intelligence tools (e.g., Trade Map, Global Trade Helpdesk, Export Potential Map, Market Access Map, Investment Map, Standards Map), e-learning platforms (SME Trade Academy, Global Textile Academy), sustainability and inclusivity programs (SheTrades, GreenToCompete, Green Performance Toolkit), and capacity-building advisory services delivered through partnerships with governments and business support organizations across 142 countries.

Product overview

The International Trade Centre (ITC) operates a portfolio of interconnected digital tools, e-learning platforms, and publications designed to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries to compete in international trade. The offering is organized into three core pillars: Market Data Tools (including Trade Map, Global Trade Helpdesk, Export Potential Map, Investment Map, Market Access Map, NTM Business Surveys, e-ping, Procurement Map, and regional marketplace explorers for Africa, Asia, and Latin America), Sustainability and Inclusivity Platforms (including Green to Compete, SheTrades.com, SheTrades Outlook, the Green Performance Toolkit, Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway, Standards Map, Sustainability Map, SDG Trade Monitor, and YE! Young Entrepreneurs), and E-learning Platforms (including the SME Trade Academy, Global Textile Academy, SheTrades Virtual Learning Space, Standards E-learning, Supply Chain Management Platform, and Intra-African Trade E-learning). ITC also publishes flagship reports including the SME Competitiveness Outlook and The Coffee Guide. The tools are available free of charge and serve both individual businesses and policymakers across 142 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SheTrades: ITC initiative supporting women's economic empowerment through trade, connecting women entrepreneurs to markets and providing training resources.
• SME Trade Academy
• GreenToCompete
• Trade Map
• Market Access Map
• Export Potential Map
• Global Trade Helpdesk
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Partnership
• Youth Ecopreneur Awards
• World Export Development Forum (WEDF)
• WEIDE Fund
• Global SME Ministerial

Products and services

• Trade Map ITC's online database providing international trade statistics and a wide range of indicators on export performance, competitiveness, and market access for over 200 countries and territories.
• Global Trade Helpdesk Market intelligence platform that provides trade-related information including tariffs, regulations, and trade statistics to help businesses navigate international markets.
• Export Potential Map Tool that identifies export opportunities by matching a country's current exports with untapped markets using trade data and analytics.
• Investment Map Online tool providing data on foreign direct investment flows, stocks, and sectoral investment activities across countries.
• Market Access Map Tool providing tariff and trade regulation information across markets to help businesses understand market access conditions.
• Rules of Origin Facilitator Tool helping businesses and policymakers understand preferential rules of origin to take advantage of trade agreements and reduce tariff barriers.
• Procurement Map Tool mapping public procurement opportunities and tender information to help businesses access government contracts in developing countries.
• African Trade Observatory ITC and Afreximbank dashboard enabling region-wide analysis of almost 900 goods-oriented marketplaces across 33 African countries.
• NTM Business Surveys ITC programme that surveys companies in developing countries about regulatory and procedural obstacles to trade they face at home and abroad, increasing transparency around non-tariff measures.
• e-ping (Electronic Product Information tool) Alert system for SPS and TBT notification information, helping businesses stay informed about sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers to trade.
• LegaCarta Tool providing legal trade information and trade facilitation data to help businesses navigate regulatory requirements.
• SheTrades.com Global platform connecting women entrepreneurs to markets and buyers, providing a network for women-owned businesses to scale globally.
• SheTrades Outlook Assessment tool measuring the policy environment for women's economic empowerment in trade across countries.
• Green to Compete ITC's trade and environment activator supporting small businesses in developing countries to embrace green practices, climate resilience, circular economy, and biodiversity through the GreenToCompete Hubs network.
• Green Performance Toolkit Free digital tool launched at COP28 enabling small businesses to assess and monitor environmental performance across eight key areas, providing actionable recommendations for resource efficiency. Available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
• Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway UN platform supporting transparent, inclusive, and efficient compliance with EU Deforestation Regulations for businesses in developing countries.
• Standards Map Platform providing information on voluntary sustainability standards, certification schemes, and their requirements across different sectors and markets.
• Sustainability Map Tool providing sustainability standards and compliance information to help businesses access sustainable markets.
• SDG Trade Monitor Tool tracking trade data linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, helping measure trade's contribution to SDG targets.
• YE! Young Entrepreneurs Community Community platform supporting young entrepreneurs, including youth ecopreneurs, with networking, mentorship, and resources for green and sustainable business development.
• SME Trade Academy ITC's e-learning platform offering over 100 free online courses in multiple languages on trade-related topics for small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Global Textile Academy Online learning hub for professionals in the natural fibres, textiles, and clothing sector, providing resources and training for supply chain competitiveness.
• Supply Chain Management Platform Online learning platform focused on supply chain management concepts and practices for trade-related professionals.
• Intra-African Trade E-learning E-learning platform providing courses specifically focused on intra-African trade opportunities and frameworks such as the AfCFTA.
• SME Competitiveness Outlook Annual flagship publication providing research, data, and analysis on SME competitiveness, digital transformation, and trade policy for small businesses in developing countries.
• The Coffee Guide Comprehensive reference publication on the global coffee sector, providing practical guidance for producers, exporters, and policymakers on coffee trade and market access.
• Benchmarking for Trade Tool enabling SMEs to benchmark their performance against industry standards and competitors to identify areas for improvement.
• Strategies Implementation Management Tool Tool helping countries and organizations implement and monitor trade development strategies effectively.
• Market Analysis Tools Portal Central portal aggregating ITC's market analysis tools including NTM surveys, trade data, and country-level analysis to help countries understand trade barriers.
• SheTrades Virtual Learning Space E-learning platform within SheTrades providing courses and resources to support women entrepreneurs in accessing digital trade opportunities.
• Standards E-learning E-learning platform providing courses on voluntary sustainability standards and their application across value chains.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58,000 small businesses became more competitive in trade with ITC support in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• QazTrade Trade Policy Development Center (Kazakhstan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITC partnered with Kazakhstan's QazTrade to present a CBAM impact assessment report analyzing how the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will affect Kazakhstan's aluminum, iron, and steel exporters.
• Jordan Ministry of Industry, Trade and SupplycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation to hold a three-day workshop in Amman focused on data collection and analysis in the management consulting sector. Part of Jordan's national strategy for the management consulting services sector and the UK-Jordan Trade Partnership Programme framework.
• WTO and UNIDOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint launch of Partenariat pour le Coton implementation phase aimed at attracting investment to build a complete cotton-to-garment production chain in West and Central Africa. Projects creation of approximately 500,000 direct employment positions with benefits expected particularly for women and young people.
• WTO SecretariatflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe WEIDE Fund (Women Exporters in the Digital Economy) was launched by WTO Secretariat and ITC, with Phase I launched in 2024. The fund announced US$1.76 million in grants to 219 women-led enterprises across Dominican Republic, Mongolia, and Nigeria in Q1 2026. Phase II expected to include businesses in Jordan in Q2 2026.
• FAO, GIZ, IOM, ILO, ITC, UNESCO, Cowater InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven international partners in the EU-funded Agri-food Business Development Programme (AfBDP) launched in 2021, bringing together organizations to strengthen agri-food value chains from production to market in Iraq.
• Botswana, Mongolia, Romania, UN-OHRLLS, GSMA, Opportunity InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSide event organized to discuss how financial and technology solutions can help MSMEs in Landlocked Developing Countries overcome trade finance constraints, addressing unfavorable lending conditions, information asymmetries, and underdeveloped financial systems.
• CLAC and Center for Circular Economy in CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITC partnered to host a panel at World of Coffee San Diego exploring how regenerative agriculture and Responsible Business Conduct can transform coffee supply chains, featuring representatives from International Coffee Organization, RGC Coffee, Mountain Harvest Uganda, and CAFICO Honduras.
• FAOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITC worked with FAO on addressing global food price inflation concerns and fertilizer shortages caused by the Iran war, warning developing countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Kenya about dependence on Gulf nitrogen fertilizers.
• European Union and International Trade CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Kazakhstan's roadmap for developing oilseed export capacity for 2026-2028, targeting annual overseas sales exceeding $1 billion. EU and ITC participated in roundtable discussions with government ministries and industry stakeholders.
• Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEPA hosts the GreenToCompete Hub in Ghana, offering technical assistance to Ghanaian SMEs to implement smart green business practices. The partnership has been extended to continue Hub activities including voluntary and sustainability standards certification support.
• GreenToCompete Hubs NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of partner-led organizations promoting green transformation in their countries, including Caribbean Hub, Ghana Hub, Kenya Hub, Laos Hub, Nepal Hub, Peru Hub, Vietnam Hub. Hubs enable local priorities and multiply ITC's tools and services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development): UNCTAD is one of ITC's two parent organizations (the other being the WTO) and shares the SME-and-developing-country trade-development mandate, making it the closest institutional peer. Both publish flagship trade analyses and operate global programmes for developing economies.
• World Trade Organization (WTO): WTO is ITC's other parent organization and co-launches flagship initiatives (e.g., WEIDE Fund, Partenariat pour le Coton). Both operate under the UN umbrella and serve trade-policy and trade-capacity-building functions across overlapping member-state geographies.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization): UNIDO runs SME competitiveness, agribusiness, and trade-related development programmes that materially overlap with ITC's mandate, often under joint programming (e.g., the West/Central Africa cotton partnership). Comparable in funding model (voluntary contributions) and target beneficiaries (developing-country SMEs and policymakers).
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): ICC is a global business-membership organization that works on trade facilitation, rules of origin, and SME trade capacity — areas that overlap directly with ITC's trade-policy and standards work. Both serve business audiences and advocate for inclusive trade rules.

Broad incumbents

• World Bank Group - Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice: The World Bank runs large-scale trade and competitiveness programmes in developing countries, often co-financed with the same donor pool ITC draws on. It is a broader incumbent in international development finance with overlapping SME/competitiveness mandates.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): GIZ implements German government development programmes, many focused on trade, value-chain development, and SME competitiveness in partner countries, and is a recurring co-implementer of ITC programmes (e.g., the EU-funded Agri-food Business Development Programme in Iraq).
• USAID: USAID runs significant trade and economic-growth programmes for developing countries, including market-systems and value-chain approaches that overlap with ITC's agribusiness and SME-export work. Comparable donor-funding mechanism and beneficiary base.

Emerging players

• Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI): CIGI produces research and policy advice on global trade governance, digital trade, and international economic law — topics overlapping with ITC's policy-formulation support work, though CIGI operates as a think tank rather than implementing agency.
• World Economic Forum (WEF): WEF's Trade and Global Economic Fragility initiatives convene governments and business on trade policy, sustainability, and SME inclusion — overlapping thematically with ITC's policy and inclusive-trade work, particularly on sustainability standards.

Others

• S&P Global Market Intelligence (Panjiva): Panjiva (an S&P Global product) provides shipment-level trade intelligence and supply-chain analytics for commercial users, directly competing with ITC's Trade Map at the data-product layer. Adjacent ecosystem participant with overlapping end-user audiences (trade analysts, businesses) but a commercial rather than development mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ITCnews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5lqp6_HzCYrylUXztjmEAg
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalTradeCentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-trade-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/internationaltradecentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments157 records

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Frequently asked questions about International Trade Centre