Here is a list of useful links to the official web sites of some of the key international institutions involved in the liberation of trade. We also provide a brief description of how these institutions see their roles. You may go further by exploring how your country is related with them, for example, is your country a member of these institutions? Is your country receiving assistance from or giving support from any of them?

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
was established in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. It works towards the goal of advancing Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community through promoting open trade and economic cooperation among its members.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)
aims at improving the welfare of the people in Asia and the Pacific through providing loans and technical assistance to governments for specific, high-priority development projects and programs. Since 1999 it has been focusing on poverty elimination in the region, through activities to promote economic growth, develop human resources, improve the status of women, and protect the environment. Its other key development objectives, such as law and policy reform, regional cooperation, private-sector development, and social development, also serve this main goal.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)
is responsible for ensuring the stability of the international financial system. Through surveillance, financial assistance, and technical assistance, it aims to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; foster economic growth and high levels of employment; provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
is intended to help governments, who share a commitment to pluralistic democracy and market economy, to tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised economy. Its work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to education, development, science and innovation. Based on policy research and analysis, it provides a setting for reflection and discussion that helps governments shape policy, which may lead to formal agreements among member governments, or be acted on in domestic or other international fora.

World Bank (WB)
is one of the world's largest sources of development assistance. Through its loans, policy advice and technical assistance, it supports a broad range of programs aimed at reducing poverty and improving living standards in the developing world. Its programs give high priority to sustainable, social, and human development and strengthened economic management, with a growing emphasis on inclusion, governance and institution-building. The Bank seeks to help countries to strengthen and sustain the fundamental conditions they need to attract and retain private investment.

World Trade Organisation (WTO)
is the only global organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At the heart of its multilateral trading system are the WTO agreements, which are negotiated and signed by the majority of the world’s trading nations, and ratified in their parliaments. Its goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business by ensuring that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.