Traditional policy-making agencies of governments of developing countries (ministries and departments of industry and trade) are often ill-equipped in terms of management, analytical and research capacities to make well-informed policy choices and to manage efficiently government programmes of incentives. In many cases, such governments have not fully perceived the close relationship of trade, investment, and technology (including manpower skills development and technology acquisition), which necessitates an appropriate institutional arrangement within the government machinery. Such relationship calls for new systems of government coordination as well as for new mechanisms in the governmental apparatus, all aimed at strengthening the role of the private sector in the economy. Instead of the earlier regulatory and control mentality, a cooperative and enabling environment is required from government agencies. Most developing countries have yet to develop representative, private sector institutions such as trade and industry associations and chambers of commerce. Where these institutions exist, they have in the past been primarily concerned with lobbying governments in an environment of government regulations. What is now required is for these organizations to develop technical capabilities to service their membership. This demands new skills, and new resources in particular with regard to access to market information databases. These organizations could also be partners in technical cooperation. Lastly, most developing countries have not utilized the technical skills of universities and research institutions in the process of policy development, formulation, and monitoring. Linkages need, therefore, to be established between governments, business, trades un ions and the academic/research community to develop a consensus on effective national strategies for building internationally competitive export supply capacities.