Categories for a global intelligence system

1. Market information Market statistics and potential Physical features - infrastructure, communications, money markets, banks etc. Media - availability, effectiveness and cost Resources - money, human, materials (availability, cost, quality, development) 2. Environmental factors Economic factors Economic - rate of growth, structure, conduct, capital, economic blocs, (SADC), GNP, GDP, Nl Political/Legal - laws, regulations, investment, "climate", government ideology, stability. Social - customs, culture, attitudes, preferences Technology - state, trends development Consumer attitudes and behaviour, spending power, per capita income Channels of distribution - type, availability, effectiveness Information sources - quality, availability and cost

Competition - type, structure, operations, strategy plans, Trading partner(s) programmes, acquisitions, mergers Management capability Foreign embassies, NGOs and other developmental thrust 3. Financial/Exchange Balance of payments Terms of access - quotas, tariffs, duties etc Monetary and fiscal policy Commodity exchanges International competitors Spot, forward market Inflation rates Expectations - economists, bankers, business people Currency alterations and movements, controls and regulations Taxes - inflation, incentives, dividends tax rules, earnings, repatriation of profits Intervention by outside bodies e.g. IMF or World Bank and their effect on policy