There can be no question of the value of trade associations, initially mainly for exporters, but for many other potential uses also, as sources of trade and technical information and support. This directory is thus to be warmly commended, and although aimed at the business community, will certainly have value for wider information work. This second edition “has been completely updated and considerably expanded” broadening its coverage in primarily the consumer market and service sectors. For industrial sectors it concentrates on industries which have a link with consumer markets, unless they are considered of paramount importance to the country’s economy. “Substantial” detail has been added on the statistics and publications which the individual association’s produce and this edition also includes e‐mail and Web site addresses where they exist. Only trade associations and bodies with a national representation are included. The results seem impressive. More than 4,600 key trade and business associations are covered, representing 19 major market sectors across 146 countries.
The arrangement begins with a section on pan‐regional and international bodies, and then deals country by country alphabetically. There is a general index of names in English and another index by service and industrial sector. These indexes are useful enough as far as they go and within their own definitions are both comprehensive and accurate. But the name index could usefully have included entries in local languages; the sector index uses fairly broad headings, with sub‐divisions where necessary or appropriate. This results in three columns of entries under “food”, with a further 19 columns under a range of sub‐headings. Within each category the arrangement is alphabetical by name of the organisation. Again, perhaps a more specific keyword index would also be a useful feature. These suggestions would increase the size (and no doubt the price) of an already costly volume, and perhaps the publishers know their users well enough to dispense with more detailed indexing; or perhaps there is a longer‐term goal of electronic publication which would provide such indexing almost automatically.
Restrictions on the range of entries will cause the occasional difficulty: possibly a more detailed or explanatory title would avoid potential confusion. For example, only six aerospace associations are listed, excluding the United Kingdom SBAC and a number of prominent European organisations, but including societies from Canada, Austria, Ireland and New Zealand. I would question whether the aerospace industry is a significant element in the economy of at least three of those countries which are included. There is certainly room for further expansion, or possible fragmentation, of the directory into more detailed industrial and service titles.
That said, all the information is presented clearly and the directory has considerable value as a source of up‐to‐date and comprehensive information on a wide range of potentially important contacts or sources of information. As such it will earn its place in any business reference collection.
