02-2017-MG Development of SMEs Exports through Virtual Market Places (VMP)

INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC)

Major Upcoming Business Opportunity Notice

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Important: The purpose of this call for EOI is to identify appropriate suppliers who can potentially fulfil the requirements. The present call for EOI does not constitute an invitation to tender. Only suppliers deemed qualified by ITC will receive the invitation to tender.

Reference: 02-2017-MG Development of SMEs Exports through Virtual Market Places (VMP)

Date of this Call for Expression of Interest (EOI): February 10, 2017

Closing Date for Receipt of EOI at ITC/PS: March 10, 2017

Terms of Reference (summary):

The ITC project “Development of SMEs Exports through Virtual Market Places (VMP)” started in July 2014 and ends in December 2017. The project aims to assist beneficiary SMEs sell through VMPs and reach new market opportunities. The pilot countries are Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan. The target is to build the capacity of 600 selected companies in these three countries (i.e. 200 in each country).

For a more effective implementation, ITC selects VMP partners that share our vision and helps us facilitate SMEs’ access and visibility with services such as premium subscriptions, account managers, special trainings etc.

Asian countries (particularly, China) were identified among the target markets for beneficiary companies. Therefore, the project is looking for a cooperation with the Virtual market place focusing on Asian markets to provide SMEs with the premium subscriptions to help companies gain visibility and increase efficiency of e-commerce activities.

The service provider must satisfy the following criteria:

• To be a global Virtual market place (both B2B and B2C) with a strong focus on Asian markets (especially, Chinese) and a vast customer base.

   The service package covered under the premium subscription should include at least the following services:

• Supplier Verification Service (a trust label verifying credibility of beneficiary companies and distinguishing them from the non-verified vendors);
• Prioritized showcasing of products (products of beneficiary companies should enjoy more visibility and a better chance of appearing at the top of a buyer's search results);
• Unlimited Product Posting (beneficiary companies should be able to post unlimited number of products with high-quality photos and keywords);
• Efficient contact to potential buyers (it is desired that companies will have a possibility to react proactively on the independent buying requests and propose their products/services);
• High-quality customized online shops (beneficiary companies should have an opportunity to create and regularly update the customized online shops, where their products and the relevant information can be presented);
• Availability of sub-accounts (to ease management and efficiency of online-shops, availability of sub-accounts that can be contributed to different employees is desirable);
• Performance and Industry Analysis (statistical analysis to help companies analyze their online performance, better understand buyers' behavior and receive valuable real-time up-to-date information and feedback).

ITC invites interested companies/organizations to forward their Expression of Interest (EOI) by fax or by email before the closing date to:-

Procurement Services

International Trade Centre

Palais des Nations

1211 Geneva 10

Switzerland

grant@intracen.org

Telefax: +41 22-730 0900

Website: www.intracen.org

Please indicate your vendor ID number and the reference of this EOI in your response. If not registered with ITC/UNOG or UNGM, please follow the Procedure for Registration as Potential Vendor at www.ungm.org as soon as possible.

ITC reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement at any time during the EOI and/or solicitation process.

Please note that only those companies considered qualified by ITC for this project will be invited to participate in this procurement exercise.

For any further information on ITC, please consult our website: www.intracen.org