South- South Trade amounts to $2.2 trillion and exceeds North–South trade.

Combined, the countries of the South represent today one third of world trade.

Asia alone accounts for more than 66% of all South-South merchandise trade, and it is Asian firms that have taken the lead in interregional trade along a South-South axis.

Source: UNCTAD's South-South Trade Information System

The meetings demonstrate, through the volume of business generated, the untapped potential for South South trade.

The potential scope and estimated benefits from South-South trade are extensive.

In June 1999, ITC launched the ‘South-South Trade Promotion’ initiative.

The client trading has a high level of protection.

UNCTAD figures indicate that more than 70% of South-South trade is attributed to intra-Asian trade, about 6% to intra-trade between Latin American and Caribbean countries, and 2% to intra-African trade.

Developing Countries Close Deal to Boost South-South Trade

Developing Countries Close to Deal to Boost South-South Trade

(The Inter Press Service also has a useful article on South-South trade.)

Just twenty years ago South-South represented barely 10% of world trade.

South-South trade could become a key instrument for the region’s development.

TF: What role does South-South trade play in Latin America?