Background

ATIFTAP was founded following the completion of a UNDP/ITC regional project titled "Strengthening the Training Institutions in the Foreign Trade Sector." On February 28, 1991 six of the ten participating institutions decided to form an association to continue and expand the modest network of institutions founded by the project. ATIFTAP was inaugurated in Bangkok on June 27, 1992. ATIFTAP aims to foster cooperation between the training institutions and export/trade promotion agencies in the Asia Pacific region; represent its members with governments and other institutions; organize, promote and sponsor workshops, exchange programmes, joint research projects, conferences and technical cooperation projects. ATIFTAP is administered by a Board of Directors. The day to day affairs of the Association are managed by the Secretary General's office. The Board appoints the Secretary General, programs the activities of the Association, accepts full, associate and honorary members, and can recommend the suspension or termination of membership. Up until January 1995, membership was restricted to thirty by a board decision. New members can now be admitted pending Board's approval.