How support services can expand manufactured exports : new methods of assistance

Assistance to support services for exports has rarely boosted manufactured exports from developing countries whose export policies were less than fully satisfactory. This is particularly true of services that involve consultant advice, export promotion, marketing assistance, and provision of export-related information. The authors make four recommendations for improving such services: (a) emphasize services that improve firms'know-how and performance in overcoming supply difficulties; (b) give exports ready access to commercial service suppliers abroad; (c) rely on specific, time-limited projects or project components involving temporary infusions of specialized resources to channel external assistance to services supporting manufactured exports; and (d) create packages of assistance built around one or more grant funds.