UN GLOBAL GOALS
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ISTIA in the UN Civil Society Network

Civil Society Network, comprising United Nations entities and Civil Society and
NGOs working towards United Nations development agenda goals.
ISTIA is an NGO functioning in an intergovernmental capacity
providing services trade statistics capacity building.
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ISTIA among International Statistical
Bodies
ISTIA listed by International
Statistical Institute (ISI)
ISTIA has been listed by the International
Statistical Institute (ISI) in the ISI Directory
of Official Statistical Organizations, in light of the
importance of ISTIA work to capacity building of official
statistical measurement by governments of
trade-in-services.
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ISTIA work seeks to increase transparency of
services trade-related information for all WTO Member
economies, especially developing country and least-developed
(LDC) economies. At present, such level-of-detail is
only possible between the U.S. and selected countries; the
U.S. government, through the Bureau of Economic Analysis is
presently collects the most detailed level of service-related
trade information, using statuatory business reporting
modalities modeled on best-practices of OECD as a part of
their Balance of Payments/National Accounts information
surveys submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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ISTIA
case postale 628 CH-1214 Vernier Geneva, Switzerland Tel/Fax:
+41 594
8688
Email: info@servicestrade.org |
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ISTIA is accredited to the 11th
WTO Ministerial in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 10-13 December 2017

ISTIA
is an NGO in consultative status to the World Trade Organisation, since 2016 |
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Statement of the Ambassador Julian
Braithwaite (UK), WTO Chair for Council on Trade in Services
"Without good data, the task in front of us becomes
exponentially harder."

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"Conventional trade data (including in the UK’s Office
of National Statistics’ services exports data) underestimates the importance of
services because it only captures the first two Modes of Supply (cross-border
supply and consumption abroad) but does not include Modes 3 and 4.
We also face the issue of services being embedded in
goods for example the design and engineering components of technology, the
marketing of a product or even the after-sale maintenance which are rarely
captured.
This is a fundamental problem if we are to work towards
achieving the SDGs as good policymaking is dependent on being able to fully
understand the challenges facing us. Without good data, the task in front of us
becomes exponentially harder." |
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Part of the opening session-statement delivered by Ambassador Julian
Braithwaite, Chair of the WTO Council on Trade in Services, at the UNCTAD Multi-Year
Expert Meeting on Trade, Services and Development on 18 July 2017. |
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ISTIA's
participation
at the
UNCTAD Multi-Year Expert Meeting
on Services, Development and Trade,
(5th Session) The Regulatory and Institutional Dimension
Geneva,
18-20 July 2017

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Between 18-20 July 2017, the Multi-year Expert Meeting on Trade, Services and
Development was held in accordance with the decision of the Trade and Development
Board taken at its thirty-first special session, held on 5 April 2017. The
objective of the multi-year expert meeting was to provide enhanced understanding
on the potential of the services economy and trade, particularly infrastructure
services, for economic transformation, growth, poverty eradication and job
creation, and on the multidimensional importance of these linkages as levers for
achieving inclusive and sustainable development. It aimed to provide tools
for participants to identify best-fit, coherent and comprehensive services
policy, regulatory and institutional approaches to facilitate engagement in trade
negotiations and international cooperation at the multilateral and regional
levels so as to maximize the development potential of services in national
economies.
Participant List
Programme
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ISTIA and
the
WTO
ISTIA
is Accredited to the
World Trade Organization
On
19 July 2017, ISTIA was re-accredited to the WTO.
ISTIA's first application for Accreditation to the World Trade
Organization was accepted on 17 July 2016. This accreditation was
requested in light of Art. V.2 of the
Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization,
whereby it was stated that “The General Council may make
appropriate arrangements for consultation and cooperation with non-governmental
organizations concerned with matters related to those of the WTO.”
ISTIA further noted that in 2015, the General Council recognized
that Members recognized “the role NGOs can play to increase the
awareness of the public in respect of WTO activities” by
creating a framework for cooperation which would “improve
transparency and develop communication with NGOs”. Relations
between the WTO and Civil Society were further clarified in a
Decision adopted by the General Council on 18 July 1996.
ISTIA looks forward to providing services statistics capacity
building to WTO Members, especially to developing country
Members , LDC (least developed country) Members and LLDC (land
locked developing country) Members. |
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ISTIA is
honored to
have represented at the
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Preparatory meeting for UNCTAD XIV, Salle XXVI, 26 May 2016
ISTIA intervention to UNCTAD 2nd Meeting on Civil Society:
describes the how ISTIA Work addresses
Sustainable Development Goal no. 17: “Revitalize
the global partnership for sustainable development”. As
ISTIA addresses
services
trade statistical capacity building, ISTIA addresses
SDG 17 "subgoal" 17.9: Capacity
building: Enhance international support for implementing effective
and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support
national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals,
including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation,
SDG 17 "subgoal" 17.10: Trade:
Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable
multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization,
including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha
Development Agenda, and SDG 17 "subgoal" 17.9:
Data, monitoring and accountability as a systemic issue: By
2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress
on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and
support statistical capacity-building in developing countries.
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ISTIA was honored to be accredited to the UNCTAD XVI Ministerial in
Nairobi, Kenya
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ISTIA is accredited to attend UNCTAD 14 in Nairobi, to discuss the
contributions of ISTIA work to Sustainable Development Goal 17, to
“Revitalize
the global partnership for sustainable development”.
ISTIA seeks to show support for
Agenda 2030's United Nations
Global Goals for Sustainable Development which are to launch "FROM
DECISION TO ACTION".
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ISTIA and
the United Nations
ISTIA
Seeks UN-ECOSOC General Consultative Status
On
1 June 2016, ISTIA made application for Consultative Status to the
UN Economic and
Social Commission (ECOSOC).
Formal relations with ECOSOC are based on Article 71 of the
UN Charter
and governed by
ECOSOC resolution 1996/31,
which
outlines the eligibility requirements for consultative status,
rights and obligations of NGOs in consultative status. The
resolution also specifies the role and functions of the ECOSOC
Committee on NGOs and the responsibilities of the UN Secretariat in
supporting the consultative relationship. Since the first NGOs were
granted consultative status in 1946, the participation of NGOs in
intergovernmental bodies has increased significantly. Today, more
than 3,400 NGOs have consultative status with ECOSOC, and over 1,500
NGOs are associated with the UN
Department of
Press and Information (DPI). In the
Millennium Declaration, world leaders resolved to give greater
opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations
and civil society, in general, to contribute to the realization of
the Organization’s goals and programmes. In 2002, the Secretary
General's report,
"Strengthening the United Nations: an agenda for further change"
(A/57/387) reflected on this growing importance of NGOs to the
work of the United Nations. |
NGOs
in consultative status by category (table)
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NGOs
in consultative status by category (chart)
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NGOs
in consultative status by region |
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ISTIA is
honored to represent as a delegation to the
Meeting of the Group of Experts
on National Accounts
UN Palais des Nations, Geneva, Salle XI, 17-20 May
2016
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UN Economic Commission for Europe
Special Session for Eastern
Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, South East Europe and other
interested countries
Expert Group on National
Accounts
Country experience with surveys, data collection and
compilation techniques,
Global Production Research Agenda, Exchange of economic
data and data sharing, Global accounts and analytical use of SUT, Use of
Statistical Units in National Accounts
Link to the meeting can be found here:
Meeting of the Group
of Experts on National Accounts |
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ISTIA was honored to be accredited
to the 10th WTO Ministerial in Nairobi, Kenya
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ISTIA is
honored to be accredited to the
UNCTAD TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD,
Sixty-second session,
UN Palais des Nations Room XXV Geneva,
14-25 September 2015
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UN Conference on Trade and
Development
Integrating the Trade Dimension into
United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks
High-level segment: Development strategies in a globalized world
Multilateral processes for managing sovereign external debt, Role of
women as catalyst for trade and development, Interdependence:
Financialization and macroeconomic fragility in the global economy,
Contribution of UNCTAD to the implementation of the Programme of Action
for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020: Fourth
progress report, Economic development in Africa: Unlocking the potential
of Africa's services trade for growth and development Evolution of the
international trading system and its trends from a development
perspective - The role of small holder farmers in sustainable
commodities production and trade Investment for development: Reforming
the international investment regime Preparatory process for the
fourteenth session of the Conference: Establishment of the Preparatory
Committee Approval of the provisional agenda of the Conference UNCTAD
contributions to the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of
the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and
social fields Technical cooperation activities Review of the technical
cooperation activities of UNCTAD Report on UNCTAD assistance to the
Palestinian people Report of the Seventh United Nations Conference to
Review All Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable
Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices
Follow-up to the Joint Inspection Unit report and the agreed conclusions
of the twenty-sixth special session of the Trade and Development Board.
UNCTAD Meeting page |
Programme of Meetings
14 September |
15 September |
16 September |
17 September |
18 September |
21 September |
22
September |
24 September |
25 September |Summary
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Presentations from the Meeting.
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Participant list |
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ISTIA
appreciated
the ICTSD-World Trade Institute
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New Horizons in Services Trade
Governance.
25 November 2014 to 26 November 2014. World Trade
Organisation, Room S1. 0. 6
This conference addressed
several issues currently at the forefront of the rapidly evolving role
that services are playing in the 21st century world economy. In various
panel discussions, experts presented findings from selected chapters of
a forthcoming Research Handbook on Services Trade to be published by
Edward Elgar. Organised by
ICTSD and
WTI.
The ICTSD-WTI Session can be viewed on Youtube. |
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ISTIA
appreciated
the ICTSD |
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TRADE IN SERVICES AGREEMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION AND DISCUSSION
TISA: Trade in Services Agreement Public
Information Session and Discussion
30 April 2014, Centre Varumbe, CCIG
Centre Conference International Geneva, Room A, 18:30 - 20.00
This Public Information Session provides a forum for discussion
outside the formal negotiating environment. Speakers will present an
overview of the objectives and main elements of the TISA negotiations,
the progress that has been made to date as well as perspectives on new
approaches to services negotiations. - See more at:
http://ictsd.org/i/events/dialogues/187823/#sthash.VM9VCULK.dpuf
This Public Information Session provides a forum for discussion
outside the formal negotiating environment. Speakers will present an
overview of the objectives and main elements of the TISA negotiations,
the progress that has been made to date as well as perspectives on new
approaches to services negotiations. - See more at:
http://ictsd.org/i/events/dialogues/187823/#sthash.VM9VCULK.dpuf
This ICTSD forum provided discussion
basis for goverment officials from several TISA government countries,
speakers included trade Ambassadors from Colombia, the United States,
Australia, Turkey and the European Union. Discussions provided an
overview of the objectives of the TISA negotiations and described
progress made to date, also addressing some new approaches to services
negotiations.
The
ICTSD Session can be viewed on Youtube. |
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ISTIA
is proud to attend the the
Discussion Forum: "Why Trade Matters in Development
Strategies"
UN Palais des Nations, Geneva, Room XXV, 27-29
November 2013
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ISTIA
was proud to be invited to the
Civil
Society Meeting with the
UNCTAD Secretary-General in Geneva
On 3 October 2013, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, the
new
Secretary-General
of UNCTAD, welcomed over 30 civil society leaders to UNCTAD Geneva.
ISTIA was pleased to have been invited to the
first meeting between Dr. Kituyi and civil society representatives
since he took office in September. This was an opportunity for
all civil society leaders to exchange views with the Secretary General
at the very start of his term. At the commencement of the meeting, Dr.
Kituyi praised the role played by civil society organizations in
promoting socially just economic development, and said that he wanted to
see civil society organizations contributing to UNCTAD meetings at the
highest level.
In his opening speech at the meeting,
Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi highlighted the "phenomenal" expertise - particularly
in global trade and development within Geneva-based international and
civil society organizations. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi recalled that as
Minister of Trade of Kenya, he formalized the role of civil society
representatives in the country's trade delegation, so that involving
civil society in governmental trade and development affairs was a "duty
and not a favor". |
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ISTIA
is proud to have observer-status
at the
61st Plenary Session of the Conference of European
Statisticians
UN Economic Commission for Europe, 10-12 June 2013
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ISTIA
participation at 8th WTO
Ministerial
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ISTIA
is proud to have observer-status
at the
UNCTAD Multi-Year Expert Meeting
on Services, Development and Trade,
(3rd Session)
The Regulatory and Institutional Dimension
Geneva, 17-19 March 2010
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ISTIA
participation at WTO Ministerial
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ISTIA in the Gulf
ISTIA-GOIC MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING

A Memorandum of
Understanding has been signed on Tuesday 6th of March 2007, in Doha
Qatar, between Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) and
the Geneva-based agency International Services Trade Information Agency
(ISTIA). Signing the MOU, was H.E. Dr. Ahmed Khalil Al Mutawa, GOIC
Secretary General, and Ms. Jennifer M. Powell, ISTIA Executive Director.

This is a
strategic partnership between GOIC and ISTIA. It is aimed at assisting
the GCC countries towards building capacity to measure globalization
data such as trade-in-services crucial information for World Trade
Organization (WTO) negotiations as well as foreign direct investment (FDI),
operations of FDI-related enterprises, cross-border joint-ventures (JV),
and transfers of technology via FDI or strategic alliances. In the
context of a more global and integrated world economy, such information
is crucial for both GCC governments, as well as the private sector.
Developing the
capacity to gather such information at the national level will give the
GCC countries the tools necessary to successfully measure, understand
and plan strategically for requirements of a more global and integrated
world economy. GCC governments require training so as to better-collect
data so that negotiators are best-prepared to negotiate in the WTO under
the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), as well as in other
bilateral trade and investment negotiations. In addition to training
governments how to collect data, trade-negotiators, diplomats and other
high-level government officials could benefit from training so as to
'bridge the gap' between the new globalization data framework and their
decision-making activities.
In the new
millennium, services are instrumental components of industrial
activities; previously, services and industrial business activities were
viewed as distinct and separate. The modern global economy views
services and industrial activity as symbiotic and integrated for two
principal reasons. Firstly, because businesses require efficient
services sectors such as transportation and communications for domestic
or import/export commercial operations. Secondly, modern business models
no longer view companies as strictly services-only or industrial-only.
In the 21st century, many companies which used to be famous for only
selling goods, now also sell services as separate products; one example
of this is Hewlett Packard, a former hardware-only firm which now sells
consulting, business integration and other services as stand-alone
products. Services also make up a significant share of the GDP for all
countries in the world; developed country GDP is usually 70-85%
services-driven, while developing country GDP figures are generally
35-70% services-based.
Foreign direct
investment (FDI) is a part of the WTO GATS agreement, and in this light,
measurement of FDI on a basis which allows sectoral and partner country
identification is of crucial importance. Successful ISTIA collaboration
seeks to facilitate the public and private sectors of GCC countries to
operate in a manner most proactive and strategic in relation to
globalization affairs. |
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ISTIA and
the OECD
ISTIA
at the OECD-WTO "Aid for Trade" Mini-Ministerial
6-7
November 2006 - Doha, Qatar
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ISTIA
Technical Assistance
ISTIA
Capacity Building for Government of Vietnam
On the eve of the accession of Vietnam as the 150th WTO Member, ISTIA
provided an intensive week-long course on Services trade policy and
Services trade statistics to officials of the Government of Vietnam.
The course, which took place the first week of October, introduced the
use of services trade statistics, foreign direct investment (FDI)
statistics and foreign affiliate trade statistics. The
course
also addressed the country's new legal framework for investment.
Course summary here.
ISTIA
gratefully acknowledges funding support from the
Government of France,
Ministry of Finance Employment and Industry (MINEFI), ADETEF
ISTIA-FRANCE (ADETEF)
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) |
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ISTIA and OECD
Conference on
Globalisation and the Knowledge Economy

ISTIA
participated in the Conference on Globalisation and the Knowledge
Economy on 9 October 2006. The conference convened experts to discuss
links between innovation, structural change and productivity growth on
the one hand, and the intensification of cross-border economic linkages,
drivers and scope for public policy in implementing a national
innovation and growth strategy in the global economy.
Organised jointly by the OECD
Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI) and the French
Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry |
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ISTIA at
WTO Ministerial
2005 WTO Hong
Kong Ministerial Conference
ISTIA High-Level
Expert-group Meeting
13-18
December 2005
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ISTIA
Seminars
ISTIA
Presentation to Government of Afghanistan

Presented at the Permanent Mission of
Afghanistan to the United Nations and WTO, Geneva, Switzerland,
October 2005 |
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ISTIA and
Switzerland
2006
ISTIA Legal Foundation
26
July 2006
ISTIA
Associated as a Legal Entity in the Republic and Canton of Geneva
Geneva, 28 June 2006 - As WTO trade negotiators work to complete
the Doha Round of WTO negotiations, a new international agency arrives
with the objective of empowering developing countries in services trade
negotiations with better information through statistical capacity
building and negotiator training.
ISTIA registration, Canton-State of Geneva |
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ISTIA
Foundation
ISTIA "Launch"
as New International Agency
June
2006
ISTIA Press Release
As from the end of June 2006, ISTIA,
the International
Services Trade Information Agency has
come into being in Geneva, Switzerland. ISTIA will
function as an international agency, assisting developing country
governments with the improvement of national accounts and other
information necessary for developing country governments to better
negotiate in the World Trade Organization (WTO) services negotiations,
known as GATS (the General Agreement on Trade in Services). ISTIA was
founded in response to official requests made by developing country
governments, in the WTO and during pre-WTO trade negotiations, for help
in this area, for the past 20 years. At present, developing
country WTO trade negotiators do not have useful information which helps
them to assess the value of services trade commitments under WTO-GATS, a
fact which has hindered WTO-GATS negotiations for all WTO Members. ISTIA seeks
to change this situation for the better.
I.ISTIA Statutes II.
ISTIA Mandate
III. ISTIA Taxonomy |
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ISTIA and International Statistics Bodies
ISTIA Pariticipates in IARIW Conference, Joensuu, Finland
August 2006

ISTIA participated
in the International Association for Research on Income and Wealth in
Joensuu, Finland. Conferences of special interest concerned FDI and the
relationship of national accounts |
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ISTIA and International Statistics Bodies
ISTIA and Voorburg Group
August 2006
ISTIA was
invited to the 2006 Voorburg
Group in October 2006. The Voorburg is the consortia of national
statistical agencies and experts involved in setting services statistics
standards. The Voorburg Group is responsible for having drafted the
Central Product Classification (CPC) system, which is the standard used
by the United Nations Statistical Division; the CPC is the model upon
which the WTO GATS 120 list is based; this is the list of services
sectoral definitions used in WTO services trade negotiations. Link
to more info |
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ISTIA cancels IRS exempt application
ISTIA Withdrawal of U.S. Treasury Exempt Application
14 December 2008
ISTIA CANCELLATION. With a view towards
retention of neutrality, ISTIA has cancelled the IRS-Treasury
application for recognition as a foreign-based association, rendered in
February 2007, to the IRS Exempt office in Cincinnati/Kentucky. This
application was a good-faith, non-required
application. ISTIA, being Swiss non-governmental organization
operating in an inter-governmental capacity - such as was defined in
ISTIA Articles of Association - strives to retain an neutral position,
in work, which principally involves government training. Application
was made with a view toward opening an ISTIA
office in Washington, D.C., an interest which has also been cancelled.
For further information, persons are welcome to contact ISTIA
directly. |
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Contact ISTIA
ISTIA
case postale 628, CH-1214 Vernier-Geneva, Switzerland
Tel / Fax: +41 22 594 8688
Email: info@servicestrade.org |
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