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Osuna & Associates in the Media






ITC Contracts help small firms clinch Trade Deals  
23 April 2009

Business lawyers and experts from around the world (including a representative from Osuna and
Associates from Mexico) met in Geneva at the International Trade Centre (ITC) on 21-22 April 2009
to review and finalize model contracts that can be used free of charge by small firms across the
world.

The ITC specialists and lawyers from 51 countries were joined at the 21 - 22 April 2009 working
session by chambers of commerce and other trade support bodies from Africa, Asia, Europe and
Latin America.  From June 2009 it is expected that the model contracts will be available free of
charge on the Internet and will be distributed by participating organisations to their member firms.

"Small businesses can benefit from well-drafted model contracts, be they from developed or
developing countries," said ITC Executive Director Patricia R. Francis, "but most smaller
organisations do not always have sufficient resources to access the legal advice that they need,
which is the case for more and more organisations in the current international economic climate."

To meet this challenge, the Geneva-based ITC set up a network in which leading law firms with
trade expertise seconded top specialists at no charge to work together to create model contracts
that - with minimal modifications - can be used in any part of the globe. The law firms are also
covering their own costs to attend the meeting.
ITC, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO), provides the
service as a contribution to Aid for Trade efforts led by WTO, as well as the UN Millennium
Development Goals that aim to help to reduce poverty through trade.

"Small firms, the backbone of many economies, are finding themselves strapped by the current
economic crisis," Ms Francis noted. "These model contracts are a concrete, practical way to secure
their trade deals in global markets. They take into account the increasing sophistication of
international trade transactions, and incorporate internationally-recognized standards and best
practices."

Alejandro Osuna, partner at Osuna & Associates, said:"Mexico has been involved in global trade for
decades, and it was important for us to be part of this initiative meant to help SMEs, particularly
those in the developing world.  We have been proud to contribute our time and expertise free of
charge to support the ITC.  We are also happy to see such a great response from lawyers and
trade associations from around the world. This makes the exchange of ideas all the more
interesting."

ITC already has contracts in several languages online for perishable goods, publishing and joint
ventures. At this week's meeting, 10 more model contracts are being discussed and validated.
These range from simple sale of goods contracts through to long-term supply and service
agreements and brokerage agreements to the establishment of joint ventures entities for many
sectors.

"Equally important is making sure these contracts reach small businesses in poor countries who
need them most," Ms Francis added. "This is why we are working with our global network of trade
support institutions, who can make the contracts free to businesses in several languages through
their websites." ITC will also provide training on their use under local ITC programmes.

ITC, which has 45 years of experience in assisting developing countries and transition economies
to work their way out of poverty through trade, is using the initiative as a way to strengthen its
network to support SMEs with contractual issues and share best practices in contract drafting,
while working to increase the training capacity of national trade support institutions.

The new model contracts will be online this summer on ITC's web site, as well as on the web sites
of participating law firms and national trade support institutions in developing countries. The full
process of elaborating them, and thus bridging the many legal and cultural traditions that are
reflected global trade, has taken only one year.

ITC expressed its appreciation to the lawyers and law firms from the 51 countries who have
willingly contributed their time and expertise in drafting these model contracts.
Osuna & Associates is a Mexican
Our address is at Las Americas
5310 Suite 6A, in Tijuana, Baja
California, Mexico, CP 22440.

Our US Mailing address is:

PO Box 434720
San Ysidro, CA
92143


Mexican phone number, dialed from
the US:
0 11 52 (664) 608 0503

Our US Phone number is:
(619) 734 02 02

You can also contact us Via e-mail:

info@osunalegal.com
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