97. The report on non-conventional transnational corporations focused on small and medium-sized transnational corporations, transnational corporations from developing countries and enterprises in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union with investments abroad. Foreign investment by small- and medium-sized transnational corporations presented qualitative improvements compared to investments by large ~ransnational corporations, in that their technology tended to be associated with small-scale operations; they tended to generate more employment per unit of capital and also to transfer their technology to local small- and medium-sized enterprises. That offered particular advantages to developing countries, many of whom were keen to develop their own enterprises in collaboration with Governments of developed countries and international organizations. 98. In the discussion, delegations expressed their support for the Centre's research programme. With regard to TRIPs, one delegation was of the view that the direction of work was probably peripheral to the main rationale of the Uruguay Round negotiations, which was on the effect of poor intellectual property protection on trade flows. That delegation suggested that future work on TRIPs -35-should focus on the costs and incidence of poor intellectual property protection on international trade and investments. Another delegation stated that it attached great importance to intellectual property protection, to the means for providing such protection and to its role in international investment relations. That subject had only recently been under discussion by its Government, which had decided to adopt a new law on intellectual property protection as a major feature of its effort to join GATT. Delegations also expressed their support for the Centre's work on non-conventional transnational corporations and considered the report as reflecting processes in the world economy. 99. Some delegations expressed their agreement with the conclusions of the report that non-conventional corporations offered particular advantages to developing 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the report on non-conventional transnational corporations, their investments abroad, and their impact on developing countries. The delegations' views on intellectual property protection and its role in international investment relations also suggest a focus on international trade and economic development. The text does not mention any specific industries, natural resources, or environmental issues.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development