Standards are the language of trade.  However, this language is often full of jargon and written in a format that few can easily understand.  This holds true especially in the developing world.  In turn emerging market producers are often excluded from international and regional markets. To address this common problem Chemonics International has produced a series of guides to improve the awareness of emerging market value chain actors about standards.  

The global timber industry has an enormous economic and environemntal impact. The annual turnover of roundwood, sawnwood, panels, pulp and paper exceeds US$200 billion. Three major world regions, North America, Europe, and Asia, dominate the market in industrial wood products. North America alone accounts for about 40 percent of both production and consumption.

The World Bank will host the inaugural meeting of the Trade Standards Working Group on Tuesday June 21, 2005. The inaugural meeting will bring together representatives from bi and multi-lateral donors and lenders, implementation support organizations, certifying and standard setting bodies, non governmental organizations and academic institutions.  The group will meet to deterimine the scope and modalties of a network that would strengthen the sharing of information and experiences related to standards among network members and developing country stakeholders. The ultimate aim of the network is to assist developing country farmers, firms, and others to more effectively and profitably adopt improved social, environmental, and food safety standards. Click on the following hyperlinks to view the meeting agenda and background document on the standards working group.