The direct benefits to a country arising through membership include:

1)     Free access to ISO publications and events:

• ISO Sugar Year book
• ISO Ethanol Year book
• Statistical Bulletin
• Monthly Reports & Press Summary
• MECAS studies (6 per year)
• Quarterly Market Outlook
• World Sugar Balance
• ISO Seminar & proceedings
• ISO Workshop & proceedings
• WTO studies
• Other special studies

2)     Benefits which cannot be quantified directly but will have a positive impact on the formulation of sugar policies and the performance of the sugar economies in member countries: 

• The ISO provides members with market information and market analysis coming from recognised leading analysts with an independent view point, and with the objective of increasing market transparency.
• The ISO is the only world wide forum for discussions on an inter-governmental level: sugar policy, sugar trade policy and related matters and gives access to members to the know-how and experience of other countries in restructuring their sugar economies.
• The ISO is the meeting point of decision-makers from governments and the private sector.
• The ISO is the designated commodity body for projects sponsored through the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). Priority is given to projects from member countries.
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The results and findings of these projects, aimed at increasing productivity and diversifying sugar sectors of members, are disseminated to all member countries. To be associated with the projects, means free participation to attend fellowship missions to the projects locations. Here the ISO can provide a pay off many times the cost of membership through its role as an International Commodity Body for the Common Fund for Commodities. - the ISO can offer its good services to bring government representatives together with a view to exchanging views on common problems for example the restructuring of the sugar economies, privatisation and so on.

3)     Last but not least, membership in the ISO increases the weight and influence of a country in the international sugar context. Although the ISO is an intergovernmental organization and therefore the government becomes a member our members are encouraged, where they feel it appropriate, to include in their delegations representatives and advisers from the private sector. This is obviously entirely up to the government. In some cases, for example, Mauritius and South Africa, industry representatives are mandated by their government to represent their country in the Organization.