The Trade Point is a trade facilitation center, where all participants in the chain of commercial transactions are grouped under a single physical or virtual roof to provide them with all necessary facilities for conducting business transactions. These participants include chambers of commerce, customs, international trade institutions, banks, companies, shipping agency and insurance company.

The WTPF is a non - governmental organization that was founded in 2000 as an innovative program of UNCTAD, which currently has a worlwide network of over one hundred business information centers in Africa, Americas, Middle East, Asia - Pacific and Europe. Its main objetive is to increase SME participation in international trade.

The WTPF is structured around three central organs:

The General Assembly is the highest organ of the WTPF. Its meets annually to decide on the overall plan of action of the federation and to determine its policies, rules and regulations. It also provides a forum for trade Points to share their experiences, discuss future joint activities, and receive up-dates on new information technology trends and other trade-related developments. The General Assembly comprises representatives of active members (fully operational Trade Points) and associate members (Trade Points under development).

Executive power in the WTPF lies with the Steering Committe and its Bureau, which are responsible for runnig the organization and supervising the everdyday activities  of the secretariat. The members of the Steering Committee are elected to represent proportionately from five regions: Africa, the Americas, the Arab Countries, Asia/Pacific and Europa.

Steering Committee of the WTPF:

President: Mr. Bruno Masier, Argentina, Americas region.

Vice-President: Ms. Rafif Berro, Lebanon, Arab Countries region.

Treasurer: Mr. Philippe Doubre, Switzerland, Europe region.

Technical Director: Mr. Bejamin Baguian, Burkina Faso, Africa region.

Marketing Director: Mr. Shyam Agrawal, India, Asia- Pacific region.

Other members of the Steering Committe:

Mr. Abdulwahab Al-Haddad, Yemen, Arab Countries region.

Mr. Oswaldo Barriga, Bolivia, American Region.

Mr. Teresa Jardim, South Africa, African Region.

Ms. Cristina Dragoi, Italy, Europe Region.

Mr. Nopphol Mongkolsoot, Thailand, Asia-Pacific Region.

For more information contact the Coordinator of the Trade Point Venezuela/AVEX-UNCTAD:

Coordinator: Lizeth Simoes.

E-mail: tradepointvenezuela@avex.com.ve

Telephone: (0212) 979.08.24/ (0212) 979.50.42

Fax: (0212) 979.45.42

Web: www.venezuela.tradepoint.org