EFFECTIVE POLICIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS - © OECD 2004
3
About the OECD
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
1
, founded in 1961, provides
governments with a setting in which to discuss, develop and perfect economic and social policy. The
OECD Convention states that the Organisation shall promote policies designed to achieve the
highest sustainable economic growth and employment and a rising
standard of living in member
countries, while maintaining financial stability, and thus to contribute to the development of the world
economy; to contribute to sound economic expansion in member as well as non-member countries
in the process of economic development; and to contribute to the expansion of world trade on a
multilateral, non-discriminatory basis in accordance with international obligations.
The OECD’s members share a commitment to democratic government and the market economy.
The Organisation’s work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics to trade, investment,
enterprise development,
governance, education, the environment, science and innovation.
The OECD produces internationally agreed instruments, decisions and recommendations to
promote rules of the game in areas where multilateral agreement is necessary for individual countries
to make progress in a globalised economy. Dialogue, consensus, and peer review and pressure are
at the very heart of OECD.
Every year the OECD conducts the Global Forum
on International Investment, which serves as
an open forum for policy dialogue among OECD members, non-members and other stakeholders
worldwide. This forum provides them with a platform for exchanging their expertise and experience
in meeting the challenges and opportunities created by international investment. Within this
framework and on several fronts, the OECD is promoting investment in transition economies and
developing countries.
For further information see www.oecd.org.
About UNIDO
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of
the United Nations System mandated to promote sustainable industrial
development in developing
countries and countries with economies in transition. It focuses its efforts on reducing poverty by
fostering productivity growth. It helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition
in the fight against marginalization in today’s globalized world. In cooperation with its 171 Member
States, it mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment,
a competitive economy and a sound environment. UNIDO Headquarters are located in Vienna, and
with 29 country and regional offices, 13 investment and technology promotion offices, 30
cleaner
1. OECD Member Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
United Kingdom, United States and the
European Commission.
EFFECTIVE POLICIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS - © OECD 2004
4
production centers and 10 industrial technology centers, the Organisation has wide field presence
and extensive operational experience.
In implementing its corporate strategy of productivity enhancement for social advance, UNIDO
performs the following core functions:
• As a global forum, UNIDO generates and disseminates knowledge relating to industrial matters
and provides a platform for decision makers in the public and private sectors, civil society
organisations and the industrial community in general
to strengthen cooperation, establish a
dialogue and develop partnerships.
• As a technical cooperation agency, UNIDO designs and implements programmes to support the
sustainable industrial developments of its clients. The emphasis is on strengthening institutional
capacities, such as industry associations or chambers, technology and research institutions
and relevant government bodies.
UNIDO services are designed to be easily integrated into country specific packages and local
ownership ensures a custom made approach. Such services are provided in the context of Integrated
Programmes that have been developed for over 40 countries to ensure that UNIDO’s
support has a
sustainable and measurable impact through targeted combination of multi-disciplinary services.
The services which represent UNIDO’s key areas of expertise cover include:
• Industrial governance and statistics
• Investment and technology promotion
• Industrial competitiveness and trade
• Private sector development
• Agro-industries
• Sustainable energy and climate change
• Montreal protocol
• Environmental management
The comprehensive services provided by UNIDO are clustered around four thematic areas:
• Poverty reduction through productive activities
• Trade
capacity building
• Energy and environment
• Advancing human security in post-crisis situations
For further information access www.unido.org.
