Asia & Middle East

Asia and the Middle East are important contributors to international trade due to their varied economies and manufacturing capabilities, accounting for over 43% of global goods exports in 2021. Asia is home to major economies like China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Economies in the region are key exporters of manufacturing products such as electronics, automotive, textiles, information technology services, and pharmaceuticals. The Middle East is a key supplier of energy resources, with countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar exporting fuels and mining products. Additionally, the Middle East has developed infrastructure and logistics hubs, such as Dubai and Doha, that facilitate trade flows between Asia, Europe, and Africa. Several economies within Asia and the Middle East have signed various intra-regional trade agreements, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as agreements with several countries and territories outside the region including the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). These agreements promote regional integration and reduce trade barriers, fostering economic growth and trade diversification.

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    Afghanistan

    Asia & Middle East,
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    Armenia

    Asia & Middle East,
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    Voluntary Sustainability Standards in the APEC Region

    This compendium aims to provide global best practices in the interest to facilitate Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) as a market development and trade tool aligned to the UN SDGs.

    Source: APEC, 2022

    Policymakers: Goods, Regulation & Standards, Sustainability, Asia & Middle East, Oceania,
    This compendium aims to provide global best practices in the interest to facilitate Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) as a market development and trade tool aligned to the UN SDGs.
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    Switzerland’s Free Trade Agreements

    This paper discusses opportunities in Asia, Middle East and America for Swiss exporters.

    Source: University of Zurich, 2015

    Businesses: Goods, Regional Trade Agreements, Asia & Middle East, Europe, South & Central America and the Caribbean,
    This paper discusses opportunities in Asia, Middle East and America for Swiss exporters.
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    Guide to Doing Business in Free Trade Areas

    This program is designed to encourage the international business community that doing business in the Philippines is a lucrative option.

    Source: Republic of Philippines - Department of Trade and Industry

    Businesses: Goods, Regional Trade Agreements, Asia & Middle East,
    This program is designed to encourage the international business community that doing business in the Philippines is a lucrative option.
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    SME Internationalization through Global Value Chains and Free Trade Agreements: Malaysian Evidence

    Drawing on a survey of Malaysian enterprises, this paper examines the characteristics of SMEs in GVCs and FTAs and explores the policy implications.

    Source: Asian Development Bank Institute, 2015

    Policymakers: Goods, Regional Trade Agreements, Asia & Middle East,
    Drawing on a survey of Malaysian enterprises, this paper examines the characteristics of SMEs in GVCs and FTAs and explores the policy implications.
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    ASEAN-Led Free Trade Agreements

    This policy brief has two main goals: to identify key challenges and opportunities confronted by ASEAN-based MSMEs in taking advantage of ASEAN-led FTAs; and to provide practical and policy recommendations that could allow the greater use of these FTAs by these enterprises.

    Source: The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Trade Knowledge Network (TKN)

    Policymakers: Goods, Regional Trade Agreements, Asia & Middle East,
    This policy brief has two main goals: to identify key challenges and opportunities confronted by ASEAN-based MSMEs in taking advantage of ASEAN-led FTAs; and to provide practical and policy recommendations that could allow the greater use of these FTAs by these enterprises.
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    Competition Law and Economic Growth

     This paper examines the theoretical and empirical relationships between SMEs, competition law and economic growth in the APEC region.

    Source: APEC

    Policymakers: Goods, Services, Capacity Building, Regulation & Standards, Asia & Middle East,
     This paper examines the theoretical and empirical relationships between SMEs, competition law and economic growth in the APEC region.
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    Competition Policy in the ASEAN Region

    This report provides an overview of the interaction of competition policy and law on the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector in Southeast Asia. It aims to provide policymakers with an understanding of what competition policy is, explains how competition laws are framed and operate in the region, and how all of these can impact upon MSMEs in Southeast Asia.

    Source: UNESCAP, 2021

    Policymakers: Goods, Services, Capacity Building, Asia & Middle East,
    This report provides an overview of the interaction of competition policy and law on the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector in Southeast Asia. It aims to provide policymakers with an understanding of what competition policy is, explains how competition laws are framed and operate in the region, and how all of these can impact upon MSMEs in Southeast Asia.
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    Southeast Asian SMEs in Global Value Chains

    The publication documents the findings on leveraging foreign investment in GVCs to create opportunities for Southeast Asian SMEs.

    Source: OECD, UNIDO, 2019

    Policymakers: Goods, Services, Access to Finance, Investment Facilitation, Asia & Middle East,
    The publication documents the findings on leveraging foreign investment in GVCs to create opportunities for Southeast Asian SMEs.
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    Middle East and North Africa Investment Policy Perspectives

    The publication takes stock of investment policy trends and reforms in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia, and draws out common challenges, offering suggestions of reform priorities.

    Source: OECD, 2021

    Policymakers: Goods, Services, Access to Finance, Investment Facilitation, Africa, Asia & Middle East,
    The publication takes stock of investment policy trends and reforms in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia, and draws out common challenges, offering suggestions of reform priorities.
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    Digital Exports in Southeast Asia

    This report assesses and paints an accurate picture of ASEAN MSME exports, identifies key barriers that prevent MSMEs from exporting, and analyses how MSMEs leverage digital technologies.

    Source: ICC and Google

    Policymakers: Goods, Capacity Building, Digital Trade & E-Commerce, Asia & Middle East,
    This report assesses and paints an accurate picture of ASEAN MSME exports, identifies key barriers that prevent MSMEs from exporting, and analyses how MSMEs leverage digital technologies.