Trade
Trade is key to economic development and enables market expansion and participation in global value chains.
The inter-connectedness of the world’s businesses has never been greater and nor have the opportunities – and threats – for developing country enterprises as they seek to benefit from physical and digital trade linkages. Trade fosters competition, reduces poverty and increases specialisation, and NIRAS delivers all aspects of trade from supporting firms to meet international export standards through to helping government ministries to implement reforms needed to enter into trade agreements and to conduct effective trade promotion.
International Forest Investment & Trade (InFIT I & II)
FUNDER
FCDO
DURATION
Phase 1: 10/2014 - 09/2018
Phase 2: 05/2019 - 03/2023
In 2014 the UK and China established collaboration on International Forest Investment & Trade (InFIT), with oversight from UK’s FCDO, the China National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. Since 2014, NIRAS has run the InFIT Project Management Office, a key aspect of which was to facilitate collaborative policy research, international knowledge exchange and the development and testing of systems to improve supply chain transparency and improved business practices. Working in the areas of timber, minerals, food and industrial commodities, InFIT participants also developed systems and tools that enable Chinese timber-importing enterprises to comply with policy and regulations and contributed to updating international norms related to responsible trade. For example, InFIT-supported research informed: amendments to Chinese Forest Law preventing the buying, processing or transporting illegally sourced timber; the guidelines for mining that were recognised by OECD and London Metal Exchanges and; the first standards for sustainable natural rubber production which helped build commitment to improved practices along the rubber supply chain. Among other things, NIRAS supported the Research Institute of Forest Policy and Information in establishing the China Responsible Forest Product Trade and Investment Network. The multi-stakeholder platform promoted responsible industry engagement in forest product trade and investment alongside the provision of advice surrounding timber legality and ESG practices in natural resource management in developing countries.
NIRAS supported the Research Institute of Forest Policy and Information in establishing the China Responsible Forest Product Trade and Investment Network.
Since 2014, NIRAS has run the InFIT Project Management Office, a key aspect of which was to facilitate collaborative policy research, international knowledge exchange and the development and testing of systems to improve supply chain transparency and improved business practices.
EU-LAC Critical Raw Materials Support Action
FUNDER
EU
DURATION
11/2023 - 11/2025
Critical raw materials (CRM) are crucial for the EU’s economy, forming the bedrock of essential technologies across strategic sectors, from e-mobility and renewable energy to aerospace and defence. This project aims to operationalise strategic partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean across the entire raw materials value chain. As part of this effort, the project has also focused on mapping and evaluating critical and strategic raw material value chain projects to identify key investment opportunities. Research was conducted with around 300 EU companies, along with industry associations and chambers of commerce, leading to the identification of gaps and opportunities in the target countries. Based on these findings, mitigation measures and policy recommendations have been proposed. In addition, several business missions have been organised, facilitating bilateral meetings between public and private stakeholders and financiers to explore concrete investment opportunities.
Research was conducted with around
300
EU Companies
along with industry associations and chambers of commerce, leading to the identification of gaps and opportunities in the target countries.
Accelerated Growth for SMEs (AGS)
FUNDER
MFA Finland
DURATION
08/2021 - 07/2024
The AGS programme set out to improve the competitiveness of small and micro-sized Zambian businesses and strengthen business partnerships between Zambia and Finland. The programme provided targeted support to MSMEs through a business acceleration and training programmes, e.g to meet international standards, and facilitated foreign direct investment from Finnish companies. It also assessed the regulatory and institutional frameworks for MSME development in Zambia and built the capacity of several trade and investment support institutions such as the National Advisory Board for Impact Investment (NABII), the North-Western Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NWCCI) and Impact Capital Africa (ICA). AGS-supported MSMEs saw an average of 240% in revenue growth; the programme helped create 62 partnerships between Zambian and Finnish businesses; and it trained 507 MSMEs. It also helped create 700 jobs, mostly in mining, renewable energy and forestry.
240
average revenue growth of MSMEs programmes
62
partnerships between Zambian and Finnish companies
507
MSMES trained during the programme
700
jobs created
