Message-ID: <199810121702.NAA59114@dresden.american.edu> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 13:02:58 -0400 From: Jean-Claude Lorin <mailto:jlorin@SYNAPSE.NET> Subject: ENTERWeb News #8 To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Are you looking for QUALITY sources of information on small business, finance, international trade, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and the economy?**************************************************************************** ENTERWeb News #8 August/September 1998 < http://www.enterweb.org/> ****************************************************************************
You will find hereunder the titles ( and short descriptions ) of the new sites which have been added to ENTERWeb during the months of August and September 1998. If you are interested in accessing any of those sites just go to ENTERWeb main page < http://www.enterweb.org/> and press on the "What's new" button which will direct you to the appropriate sections.
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1) OSU Rural Finance Program
The Ohio State University Rural Finance Program is recognized as a world leader in the analysis of rural financial markets and microfinance in general and their new website is more than a welcome addition in this field. Its provides information on the Devfinance discussion group (definitely the best one of its kind on rural financial issues) and some working papers. Unfortunately its suffers from slow loading and an akward design (everything, even text, in image form).Hopefully with a bit more information provided it should quickly move to the top of the list.
2) Serra International
A Transportation and Trade commercial site with extensive free value added, it offers a combination (mostly external) of trade leads sites, country specific information, search engine, bulletin board for identifying trade opportunities, chat room and even weather information. A perfect example of how a commercial site can enhance many times its own appeal by including free value added information. Do not miss the import/export directory, it's a gem.
3) United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has the general mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade. As for most UN bodies the information provided is rather "arid" but still it is interesting to see how those commissions work. Interesting although limited set of links.
4) Global Information Network
The Global Information Network claims to be "The" one stop trade and logistics information source for world business professionals on the Internet. I would not go that far. They are basically a "mini"meta-index whose strength is on trade related information. They also cover logistics, economic development , finance and banking. What I liked best was the country related information.
5) Planet Business
Planet Business claims to be "the most complete business resource on the planet", the objective being to have a representative in each country in order to become a "Gateway Site to the Worldwide Business Community". From what I have seen, that objective is far from being a reality, many countries (including the United States) having no representative. Even when they have one, it looks a lot like a directory of directories rather than a "complete business resource". Still worth a visit.. and will likely improve.
6) CEO Express: Executive Gateway to the Internet
CEO Express is a "no frills" meta-index providing an extensive list of links categorized into daily news and information, business research, all things Internet, and tools, travel, and fun. The focus is definitely US but it is an excellent value added package.
7) ADF Microfinance Initiative for Africa (AMINA)
The AMINA Program is intended as an innovative approach to increasing the capacity of existing microfinance institutions to deliver an appropriate range of financial services to microentrepreneurs. This page of the African Development Bank website provides information and contact points for the program.
8) InvestorLinks
InvestorLinks is a meta-index of financial websites which offers market commentaries, stock analyses, industry analyses, technical trading articles, market calls and a daily U.S. market summary. Although the focus is on the US it contains links to global markets. It is an excellent resource for investors in the new, online, investment world. Do not miss their "top site winners" and the section on cyberstocks.
9) Women's Enterprise Society of British Columbia (WESBC)
The Women's Enterprise Society of British Columbia is a non-profit society whose mission is to encourage the establishment and growth of women owned and controlled businesses .Despite the fact that most services are catering to the needs of British Columbia residents, it is quite useful for any prospective woman entrepreneur as a number of documents and guides can be downloaded. Do not miss the section on links (excellent on business plans)
10) Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
ERIC is a US information system that provides, through its 16 subject-specific clearinghouses, a variety of services and products on a broad range of education-related issues. Although not directly related per se to enterprise development, it provides, through AskERIC, access to key relevant education information (just try a search on youth entrepreneurship). Excellent site.
11) Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education
ERIC/ACVE provides comprehensive information, including full text documents, to facilitate the career and occupational preparation and advancement of youth and adults. A very good site. Do not miss the "journals mini-guide" which provides European information.
12) International Commercialization Conference (October 5-7 1998, Spokane,USA)
The conference aims to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs and policy makers to share successful strategies, models and funding sources for bringing products to local and international markets. The schedule appears interesting with 5 conference tracks covering, networks and alliances, building a commercialisation model, financing, national policy and the entrepreneurial university.
13) NIPR: New Ideas in Pollution Regulation
A World Bank site for researchers, government officials, and citizens interested in understanding and improving control of industrial pollution, especially in developing countries. An immensely rich and essential site. Do not miss the working papers and the incredibly extensive set of outside links in the "on the Net" section. A truly excellent site.
14) Social Protection: Vocational and Educational Training
This World Bank site presents a set of country study summaries and issues briefs on vocational education and training based on a joint World Bank-ILO study "Skills and Change: Constraints and Innovation in the Reform of Vocational Education and Training." Excellent material.
15) Digital Women
Digital-Women is a community of resources for women and women in business. A well done appealing site providing access to key resources and advice with an additional "woman touch". I particularly liked their web related resources. A very good site worth exploring.
16) ICTED'99 Conference, Multan, Pakistan 12 - 15 April 1999
The conference will investigate how information and communications technologies may be employed to promote economic development. The focus will be towards, but not restricted to, countries of the third world and the South Asian region. A very important theme which will focus not only on national policies and public sector management but also on private sector development and poverty alleviation. A very promising initiative which will hopefully bring an adequate response.
17) OECD Ministerial Conference on Electronic Commerce (Ottawa, October 7-9th 1998)
Building on the conferences “Gateways to the Global Market -- Consumers and Electronic Commerce” (Paris, March 1997), and “Dismantling the Barriers to Global Electronic Commerce” (Turku, Finland, November 1997), OECD Ministers called for this Conference to bring together leaders from national governments, business, and international organisations for the purpose of encouraging action and co-operation with the goal of “Realising the Potential of Global Electronic Commerce”.
18) Business Week Enterprise
Created by Business Week magazine, this new site offers news and features for small-business owners and entrepreneurs, plus advice, regular columns, and a wide range of business resources. Although very much US focused it is a very good site with a down to earth orientation. I particularly liked their downloadable tools in the finance section.
19) Investor Words
With over 5,000 definitions and 15,000 links between related terms, InvestorWords is the most comprehensive financial glossary you'll find anywhere.
20) Intermediate Technology Alternative Finance
Set up by Intermediate Technology Publications ( "Small is beautiful" Schumacher's legacy) this site aims to provide articles and information on all aspects of alternative finance, including micro-credit, savings, finance for housing, consumption or insurance services. Interesting articles although the site is somewhat limited at this stage.
21) Calmeadow
Calmeadow is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing access to credit and other financial services to self-employed people in Canada and the developing world. It is also one of the global microfinance pioneers, with investment, research, and advisory work internationally. Their site has just opened and is very much limited in terms of value added. I , personally, am very much looking forward to its further development.
22) Développement international Desjardins (DID)
Développement international Desjardins is an ONG whose mission is "to empower the citizens of developing and transition countries by encouraging the creation of collectively owned and operated businesses". In concrete terms this means that DID is involved in setting up savings and credit cooperatives in those countries. Do not miss the sections on projects and publications.
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If you have sites to suggest for review, please let me know. If you have comments or suggestions on the way ENTERWeb should evolve, don't hesitate and drop me a line, and finally don't forget to tell your colleagues and friends about ENTERWeb. The more feedback I receive the better it will be.
Happy browsing
Jean-Claude Lorin ENTERWeb Webmaster <mailto:mailto:jlorin@synapse.net> <http://www.enterweb.org>