ALEXANDRIA, VA and HONG KONG - November 25, 2001 - The Worldwide Retail Exchange (WWRE), the premier business-to-business exchange for retailers and their suppliers, and Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq NM: GSOL), a leading provider of merchandise trade sourcing information, announced today that they have formed a strategic alliance to offer a Supplier Sourcing Program for WWRE members and Asian suppliers.

The Supplier Sourcing Program is specifically designed to give fast, convenient access for WWRE members to the Asian consumer product suppliers in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India and other Asian countries.

Peter Jueptner, WWRE's Chief Commercial Officer, said: "Our members are already doing a significant amount of business in Asia. This alliance with Global Sources provides our members with the resources necessary to increase their presence there."

The program allows WWRE members to tap into the electronically enabled Global Sources supplier community. Merchandisers can immediately conduct detailed discovery and pre-qualification activities online, for the identification and selection of Asian suppliers and their products.

Global Sources Chief Operating Officer, Craig Pepples, said, "We currently have relationships with many of the WWRE's members who use both our public marketplaces and private catalog tools. Through this alliance, all WWRE members will be able to use our technology platform to access the largest community of electronically enabled suppliers in Asia. All content will be tailored to retailers' specific requirements. Our supplier community will have privileged access to the world's premier consortium of buyers. Clearly it is a value-driven, 'win-win' alliance."

WWRE's Director of Strategic Alliances, Pete Plotas, added: "We have developed a strong partnership with Global Sources over the past few months and have shaped a valuable program that aids WWRE members in their Asian supplier sourcing."

Packaged with the Program are multiple web-based electronic sourcing tools, including Private Buyer Centers and Electronic Sourcing Documents, such as Request for Quotation (RFQ) and Quotation.

WWRE members can specify their sourcing requirements and have qualified suppliers make one-to-one Private Offers to them. This helps retailers identify the right suppliers and select the right products at the right price points. Other value-added services include Global Sources' programs to electronically enable WWRE's existing suppliers with web-based tools, and an actual, private trade show service for WWRE members.

"We are most optimistic about the potential savings in time and costs that are possible through the WWRE's Asian Supplier Sourcing program," remarked Matthew Gates, Vice President for eKingfisher. "Through Global Sources' proven web-tools and services, members can tap into the Asian supplier market quite effectively."

Douwe Cramer, Global Sources Vice President of Strategic Accounts, concluded, "This is a tremendous opportunity for our expanding community of suppliers throughout Asia. Many of the WWRE members have indicated that they are planning to increase their sourcing from the region. They want to know about the suppliers here, their products and their capabilities. And this alliance makes that information available in a concise, structured format in the shortest time possible. It provides a direct portal between WWRE members and suppliers in Asia. All parties will trade more efficiently."

About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading provider of merchandise trade sourcing information and offers software solutions that facilitate cross-border trade in public and private environments. Global Sources enables trade for an established, independently certified community of more than 288,000 active buyers in over 230 countries and territories. These buyers purchase direct goods in volume for resale and generate more than 2.7 million inquiries annually for over 120,000 suppliers through Global Sources Online (www.globalsources.com). Global Sources' solutions are based on 30 years as a trade magazine publisher serving the global trade community, 10 years as a trade management software developer, and 6 years as a global trade marketplace operator.

About the WWRE
The WWRE is the premier Internet-based business-to-business exchange in the retail e-marketplace. The Exchange was created with the fundamental purpose of reducing costs and improving efficiencies throughout the supply chain, employing product and service solutions typical of a global procurement and supply operation. Designed to facilitate and simplify trading between retailers, suppliers, partners and distributors, the WWRE currently consists of 59 retail industry leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America with combined sales of over U.S. $845 billion. To date, the WWRE has saved its members over $229 million through the use of online negotiations, its first product offering. For more information, visit the website at www.wwre.org or www.worldwideretailexchange.org.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21-E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Global Sources' actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risks associated with Global Sources' business, changes in general economic conditions, and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.

WWRE contact:
Laura Battle
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
Tel: 312/233-1374
e-mail: laura.battle@edelman.com