TISNET is the Regional Trade and Investment Information Service Network (TISNET) and based at the Commission's Trade Information Service (TIS). TISNET's aim is to establish an effective exchange mechanism and utilization of trade information for the expansion of intra-ESCAP trade. Its priority users are those in the developing countries seeking to accelerate their economic development through expansion of trade. It was established in 1980 to implement recommendations in the Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in Trade for Asia and the Pacific held in New Delhi in 1978.

In 1994 up to mid-1995, an evaluation exercise on the TISNET national focal points and the TIS were conducted, to prepare a strategy for improving connectivity, advisory services especially to developing countries in order to help develop their indigenous capability in trade information services, and strengthening the TIS in its capabilities to respond to technical enquiries on specific trade-related matters.

The following describe some of the major activities of TISNET.

THE TRADE LIBRARY

The Trade Library of the Trade Information Service provides services to:

• National Focal Point institutions (NFPs) of TISNET
• Staff of the International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division, as well as other Divisions/ Units of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP for their trade reference, research, and other information requirements.
• ITC, UNCTAD, and other UN specialized bodies
• Business and industry researchers and economic reporters, usually those located in Bangkok and other areas in Thailand
• Thai government and public sector trade information clients
• Member country users within and outside Bangkok, including their Embassies and NGOs Graduate and college students, professors, research assistants, teachers of schools of higher learning in Thailand and elsewhere.

The Library collection consists of publications in hard copies and selected electronic forms. Most of the material is collected from the NFPs such as trade and investment bulletins, directories of member companies, national statistics for trade, production and other areas, market reports, product surveys and studies, price reports, and others. These are processed and described in a bibliographic database called BIS, one of the TISNET Databases.

Review of Web Sites

The TIS reviews web sites that are relevant to the work of trade and investment information centres in the ESCAP members and associate members. These are reported on a quarterly basis in the TISNET Trade and Investment Information Bulletin, as well as an annual cumulation. The 1998 list is contained in WWW Sites/ Pages Visited by TIS