Emerging Market Groups has strong local networks and a comprehensive capacity to provide management services at the local (EU) and international levels. The EMG Brussels office deals exclusively with EC projects and as a result has an expert understanding of EC procedures. The Brussels team has a very successful track record as project managers of large multi-country EU-funded projects including Asia Invest and, most recently, the Trade Development Project for the African, Caribbean and Pacific States’ Secretariat. In providing design and delivery of Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA), (which includes trade policy research studies and the implementation of seminars, workshops and high level conferences), EMG counts on a network of experts and contacts with public sector authorities, research institutions and specialist consultants from both Europe and Asia. In addition, through the work of its Agribusiness and Rural Livelihoods division, EMG has significant experience of implementing technical capacity-building projects in the agribusiness sector.

DEVELOPMENT Solutions Europe Ltd. (DS) specialises in the organisation and implementation of technical assistance (TA) projects, including the organisation of seminars and workshops for both public and private sector stakeholders in the international trade arena, with particularly strong links to Asia. DS coordinates all Asia-related projects from its regional office in Beijing, ensuring excellence in project delivery in the Asia region. DS has a proven track record in the implementation and coordination of food safety capacity-building projects aimed at the development of the EU’s trading relationship with international partners. Relevant recent and current technical assistance projects implemented by DS include the following:

• A capacity-building programme for government and industry in ASEAN countries as part of the Trans-regional EU-ASEAN Trade Initiative (TREATI). This included the organisation of workshops in Hanoi, Manila and Bangkok on sanitary and phytosanitary issues in the fisheries sector in partnership with Central Science Laboratory.
• DS was sub-contracted by the Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification (AENOR) to provide administrative and logistical support including the selection of a training site, the organisation of accommodation and travel arrangements for participants in the EC DG SANCO-funded training workshop"EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the possible introduction of a similar system in other regions of the world, Beijing Seminar."

The Central Service Laboratory (CSL) is the executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It provides training, research and analytical surveys connected with all aspects of food safety; primarily executed in cooperation with the Food Safety Authority. CSL has over 30 years of experience in providing analytical services to governments, the food industry, the agricultural industry and the agrochemical sector. CSL has a group of approximately 150 staff dedicated to the advancement of SPS, Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) issues. The goal of FSQ is to provide innovative research and analytical services supporting the aims of the UK government, the European Commission, regulatory authorities and the food industry to improve the safety and quality of food and feed. The work of the Group is focused on the following main areas:

Pesticide residue analysis Cereal growth regulator residue analysis Pesticide decision support Veterinary medicine residues Molecular food authentication Organic environmental contaminants

Mycotoxin analysis in foods Packaging and food contact materials Analysis of processing contaminants Proficiency testing Food traceability Provision of technical assistance and training to third parties in the area of food standards