and business etfectiveness of STOS j,n develoPlnng countries togelher Pith a sense of idencity and connon interest anong nelnbers of tbe Association. and trade expansion and mutual collaboration anong STOsi to provide a channel of comnunicaCion to reglonal and internationat ln6titutions working in the field ot forelgn trade; and to undertake all Buch activilies ln the tields of research' training, consultancy, infornatlon services 6nd joint collaboration' as may be considered necessary, for strengtheninq ttleir connercial and developnent interests' 35, UNCTAD support to the activlties of ASTnO is enviseqed t'lth regard to (a) four regional and tpo interregional. |treetinqs scheduled for 1985 and folloe-uP activities in I986i (b) the creation ot a nutual neteork of trade inf,ornationi and (c) research activity caterinq to the needa ot STos of deeelopinq countries' 36. other activi,ties in tbe area ot co-operatton atnonq STOS consisted of research on is3ues of particular relevance to tbe problens facing then in expanding lheir trade links $ith other developing countrles. such as those posed by restrictive conditions attached to developed countriesr otficial development assistance and the eftects of counter-trade on the ability of deeelopinq countries to bid successfully in STO tendersi pronotion of technical co-operation among STOg througb on-tbe-job training ot offlclals fron snaller and younger STOa aC the headquarters of nore experienced and larqer sTost anat updacing che multilingual handbook of sros of developing countries issued in 1983. (iv) uultlnational marketitrg enterprises (!4uEs) 3?. Actieities undertaken by UNCTAD in this area under ltE ECDC work progranne, as l,ell a6 through technical co-operation Projeccs financed by SNDP, include basic research on the juridical, nanagerial and financial aspects relating to che prdtotion and establishment of l'lltlEs. In thi6 contextr a number of studles of lhe major product sectorg iatentitied by developinq countries as appropriate for
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the development of trade and commerce among developing countries, discussing various initiatives and activities aimed at promoting mutual collaboration, trade expansion, and commercial and development interests. The text also mentions research and training programs, as well as technical cooperation projects. These activities seem to be centered around international trade and economic development, with a focus on supporting the growth and competitiveness of developing countries.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development