There is no direct link between international trade and economic growth or poverty reduction - this relationship depends on coherent government policies. For trade to benefit an economy, a country must identify its trade interests and implement consistent trade policies and strategies. Successful trade also requires resources and capacity building at all levels, from trade analysis to implementing agreements, as well as participation from all relevant stakeholders.

1. Challenges
There is no causal link between trade, growth and poverty
alleviation. The main intervening variable controlling that
relationship is a coherent government policy. International
trade will only translate into economic growth and subse-
quently will offer chances to decrease poverty, if a country
clearly identifi es its trade interests and turns these into
consistent policies and negotiation strategies.
Moreover, financial and human resources have to be
allocated to implement trade policies and the roles of dif-
ferent actors need to be defined. Aside from governments’
coherent policies, the critical elements for a successful trade
policy are institutional capacities at all levels from trade
analysis to the implementation of trade obligations, and the
involvement of all relevant actors in the trade policy formula-
tion process.
GFA concept and services
The GFA trade capacity building concept aims at enabling
developing countries to identify their trade objectives and
to formulate related policies accordingly. GFA experts strive
to support countries’ export expansion and diversification
strategies and to assist them in strengthening national and
regional trade-related institutions. The core competence of
GFA teams is to enhance stakeholders’ capacities and to
overcome identified barriers. Consequently, our wide-rang-
ing trade reform expertise takes into account the multiple
dimensions of trading challenges:
Supply side We assist developing countries to overcome
manifold constraints by supporting, among other things,
the transformation of enterprises and the modernization
of customs administrations and services. Also, we help
regional integration bodies, e. g. by improving public private
dialog in order to facilitate intra-regional trade.
Demand side GFA teams foster knowledge management
on the requirements of export markets and advise developing
countries and their companies on how to meet trade-related
standards. This is crucial for the expansion of exports and its
value added. Our services also include developing suitable
export strategies, and strengthening public institutions in
safeguarding proper product quality controls.
Institutions and human capacities We support trade
related institutions in analyzing trade obligations and formu-
lating respective strategies. Negotiating and implementing
relevant agreements and modernizing trade laws contribute
to GFA’s overall approach that a country’s trade strategy
should be coherent with its overall development objectives.
Our highly qualifi ed and experienced experts and trainers
possess solid interpersonal and intercultural skills, which
enable them to develop and nego tiate the optimal strategy
in the respective context. GFA works towards the sustainabil-
ity of its capacity building efforts through C³. This is a train-
ing platform based on an interactive adult education toolbox
which certifi ed local trainers have successfully applied in a
variety of countries.
Trade as engine for economic development
Private sector development

2. Kosovo trade policy
European Union, 2011 – 2015
The Kosovo trade policy project aims at enhancing Kosovo’s
institutional trade capacities with a view of negotiating a
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the
European Union. Its four components – trade policy, impact
assessment, trade openness and trade statistics - cover a
wide ranging trade policy reform process. GFA facilitates
this process by targeted consulting services, such as the
establishment of a statistical database, a trade-in-services
database or capacity building interventions in the fields of
trade impact assessments and analyses.
Contract value: € 2,800,000
Regional quality infrastructure and SPS systems
Central America (PRACAMS), EU, 2011 – 2017
The program aims to create a regional quality infrastructure
(QI) system in Central America with the objective of having
harmonized standards for food and non-food products.
Technical assistance is provided to national QI bodies with
respect to metrology, standardization, certification, conform-
ity assessment and accreditation as well as sanitary and
phytosanitary standards in close consultation with private
sector stakeholders. Regional QI networks are established,
assisting national institutions to strengthen their quality con-
trol capacities, thereby improving companies’ intra-regional
market access.
Contract value: € 4,319,913
Enhancing regional trade in services in
SADC, GIZ, 2010 – 2015
The program aims at strengthening the economic and trade
policy capacities and competences of relevant regional and
national institutions in the Southern African Development
Community (SADC). It supports key stakeholders to shape
the process of regional economic integration within SADC
in an active and targeted manner. GFA provides the SADC
Secretariat and SADC Member States with technical and
process-related advice and assistance to enhance further
liberalization of intra-regional trade in services.
Contract value: € 2,611,487
Bangladesh Trade Policy Support Programme
European Union, 2011 – 2015
The Bangladesh Trade Policy Support Programme seeks
to stimulate trade-related economic growth by institutional
strengthening of the Ministry of Commerce to analyze, for-
mulate and implement trade policy. The Bangladesh Foreign
Trade Institute is to become a leading trade policy think-tank
and training institute. The Export Promotion Bureau aims at
establishing an automated system for the effective operation
of the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Project
interventions include support to the implementation of a
comprehensive trade policy and capacity building activities.
Contract value: € 3,690,000
GFA at work
GFA Consulting Group GmbH
Anna-Luisa Peruzzo
Phone: +49 (40) 60306 -100
E-mail: anna-luisa.peruzzo@gfa-group.de
Private sector development
Contact