INF/IFD/R/ 11 
 
9 March 2020 
(20-1812) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCU SSIONS ON INVESTMENT  FACILITATION FOR DE VELOPMENT  
MEETING HELD ON 27 FEBRUARY 2020  
Summary of discussions by the Coordinator1 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  An open -ended organizational meeting of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation 
for Development was held on 27 February 2020, coordinated by H.E. Ambassador  Eduardo Gálvez 
(Chile). As indicated in the annotated agenda circulated by the Coordinator to all Members on 21 
February 2020,2 its main purpose was to  agree on a work plan for the months ahead up to MC12. 
The meeting also provided an opportunity to introduce the Streamlined Text, as well as any available 
written proposals or contributions submitted by Members in prep aration for the start of negotiations 
at the first substantive meeting, scheduled on 12 and 13 March.  
2  LATEST DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE LAST MEETI NG 
2.1.  The Philippines  informed Members of its decision to join the initiative, which had been 
previously communicated  in document INF/IFD/W/ 14. The Kingdom of Bahrain also announced its 
decision to formally join the initiative  on Investment Facilitation for Development . Both Members  
confirmed their readiness to work to wards  achiev ing a concrete outcome at MC12 . Participating 
Members expressed their appreciation  and welcomed them  to the process , emphasizing that the 
initiative  now counted with  the support of 100 Members . The United Kingdom took the floor for the 
first time to confirm its continued support to the  initiative.  
2.2.  The Coordinator informed Members about two high -level meetings on investment facilitation 
held in the context of the W orld Economic Forum (WEF)  Annual Meeting in Davos on 23 January 
2020, namely, an informal m inisterial meeting  on Investment Facilitation for Development ,3 and a 
session on "Easing Investment Worldwide " organized by the WEF attended by business leaders , 
ministers  and other stakeholders .4 He emphasized that Davos marked an important milestone  as it 
showed the increasing momentum of, and support for the initiative, including its significance for 
business.  
3  ORGANIZATION OF WORK  AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY T O MAY 2020 
- UP TO MC12   
3.1.  The Coordinator shared his views with Members regarding  the proposed organization of work 
(schedule of meetings and working methodology) and  objectives for the period up to May 2020 – as 
 
1 This summary, prepared and circulated under the Coordinator's responsibility, is being shared with a 
view to providing delegations with a record of the discussions and assisting them in reporting back to their 
capitals. It provides a non -exhaustive, illust rative review of the issues addressed by Members at the me eting. 
2 Document INF/IFD/W/1 6. 
3 The informal ministerial gathering was coordinated by Mr Rodrigo Yañez, Vice -Minister of Trade of 
Chile. See Report of the informal ministerial meeting prepared by the Coordinator, Document INF/IFD/W/13, 
dated 3 1 January  2020. 
4 The Coordinator informed that, as a result of that meeting, business leaders, government official and 
other stakeholders released a message in support of negotiating an internatio nal framework on investment 
facilitation for development at the WTO.  It is available at:  https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/talks -
on-investment -for-development -move -ahead/   INF/IFD/R/ 11 
 
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  outlined in the Annotated Agenda and its Annex , as well as in the  Schedule of Meetings  proposed by 
the Coordinator.   
3.2.  The Coordinator stated that, f ollowin g the decision taken by participating Members at the stock -
taking and next steps meeting held in December 2019 to move into negotiating mode as of March 
2020 and the aim expressed by Ministers in the 2019 Joint Ministerial Statement  to work towards a 
concr ete outcome at MC125, work in the coming months will focus on further developing the 
elements and specific provisions of a multilateral framework on investment facilitation for 
development.  
3.3.  As requested by participating Members at the meeting held in December, a "Streamlined Text" 
had been prepared and circulated by the Coordinator under his responsibility in mid -January 2020. 
As agreed at the December meeting, the Streamlined Text, together with any other text  proposal s 
or contributions  by Members, w ould constitute the basis for the negotiations  in the lead -up to MC12.  
3.4.  The Coordinator underlined that achieving a concrete outcome on investment facilitation for 
development at MC12  would require  commitment, intensified engagement on the substance , as well 
as continuous outreach  – notably to developing and least-developed country Members .  
3.5.  With a view to making as much progress as possible in the months ahead, he had proposed a 
work plan consisting  of the "Schedule of Meetings " for the period January to May 2020" (document 
INF/IFD/W/15/Rev.1) , and the "W orking Methodology " for the period March to May  2020, which was 
annex ed to the annotated agenda. The schedule of meetings proposed three substantive meetings 
in March, April and May and a preparatory meeting ahead of Nur-Sultan.   
3.6.  Referring to the proposed "Working Methodology ", the Coordinator  explained that the aim was 
to review , at each substantive meeting , all the different elements and issues under consider ation on 
the basis of the Streamlined Text alongside any other available text proposals or contributions by 
Members. Therefore, e ach substantive meeting would be organized on a thematic, element -by-
element basis, covering all elements and issues  under cons ideration . He encouraged Members 
wishing to submit text proposals or contributions to do so in advance of each meeting in order to 
provide other Members with adequate time to review them before the meeting . 
3.7.  Also, a s indicated in the Working Methodology, i t was proposed that the Coordinator prepare 
under his responsibility an informal "Consolidated Text" with a view to facilitating the discussions, 
as well as delegations' consultations in their respective capitals and outreach efforts. Such 
"Consolidated Text" would  be prepared on the basis of the Streamlined Text and any written 
proposals or contributions by Members. He explained that t he "Consolidated Text" would  be without 
prejudice to the positions or views of Members on the different issues discussed. As it was done in 
the past, a short non -attributable summary of discussions would  be prepared. In addition, it was 
proposed that the Coordinator make "drafting suggestions " reflecting the comments made by 
Members on the different issues discussed, so as to get a sense of the direction of the discussions 
and keep track of the progress made at each of the upcoming substantive meeting s. The drafting 
suggestions by the Coordinat or would  be circulated to Members, on a non -prejudicial basis, as soon 
as possible after each meeting for their consideration at the following meeting.  
3.8.  As usual, at every meeting, Members would  have the opportunity to revert to issues discussed 
at previous  meetings or raise any other investment facilitation -related issues they may wish.  
Besides, given the short time between the organizational meeting and MC12, the working 
methodology foresaw the possibility for the Coordinator to convene additional inter -sessional or 
informal meetings, under different formats and configurations, to discuss specific issues of interest 
to Members.       
3.9.  Participating Members fully supported the "Schedule of Meetings " and "Working Methodology " 
proposed by the Coordinator up to  MC12. A large number of d elegations intervened to reaffirm their 
commitment to work towards achieving a concrete outcome at MC12. Participating Members 
considered that the Streamlined Text , together with textual proposals or contributions by Members,  
provided a sound basis for starting negotiations  in March .  
 
5 Document WT/L/1072/Rev.1, dated 22 November 2019.  INF/IFD/R/ 11 
 
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  3.10.   A number of proponents encouraged delegations to actively engage in the discussions and 
stressed the importance of achieving a balanced and inclusive outcome on investment facilitation  in 
Nur-Sultan . The proposal to prepare a n informal  "Consolidated Text" was deemed useful in helping 
Members  advanc e the discussions on the basis of a single document . A key proponent shared its 
aspiration of having a single and "as clean as possible" text ahead of MC12. The proponents  stated 
their commitment to intensifying outreach efforts, particularly towards developing and LDC 
Members , in the months ahead .  
3.11.   A number of participating Members also deemed helpful to have intersessional or informal 
meeting s under different formats and configurations to discuss specific issues of interest to Members. 
Some delegations signalled their intention to put forward text contributions or proposals on specific 
issues. A delegation requested to circulate the drafting s uggestions by the Coordinator as soon as 
possible after each meeting in order to allow delegations to assess them properly before the following 
meeting. Another delegation pointed out that, as the negotiations progressed, it would be come more  
important to further discuss the scope and legal architecture of the framework. Participating 
Members highlighted the importance of achieving a concrete outcome at MC12 in order to show that 
the WTO can deliver on a topic of relevance to WTO Members  and the private sector . The importance 
of keeping the initiative transparent , open and inclusive  was also emphasized by Members .  
4  INTRODUCTION AND PRE SENTATION OF THE STR EAMLINED TEXT  
4.1.  The Coordinator explained that, f ollowing the guidance provided by Memb ers at the stocktaking 
and next steps meeting, the Streamlined Text was prepared using as a basis the Working Document6 
and factoring in the detailed substantive comments and drafting suggestions expressed by 
participating Members over the period September  – December 2019. The document aimed at 
assisting Members  in further develop ing the elements and specific provisions of the framework . Its 
structure, content and wording d id not in any way prejudge the position or views of any delegations, 
or their right t o submit any changes to it or make any proposals for Members' consideration . The 
Streamlined Text  was intended to facilitate open, transparent and inclusive  discussions  in the 
upcoming negotiating phase . He pointed out that the whole document was in betwee n brackets, 
reflecting that it was subject to negotiations.  
4.2.  The Coordinator provided an overview of the "Streamlined Text", including  the criteria  followed 
to prepare it, which are explained in the cover note of the document, so as to help Members prepare 
for the start of negotiations as of March.  
5  INTRODUCTION /PRESENTATION  OF ANY AVAILABLE TEXT PROPOSALS BY MEMBERS  
5.1.  A participating Member introduced its proposal  for WTO disciplines and commitments relating 
to investment facilitation for development , circulated to all Members (document INF/IFD/RD/46) ,7 
in preparation for the start of negotiations in March.  In its presentation, the delegation indicated 
that its pro posal aimed at contributing to a meaningful investment facilitation  framework , while 
ensuring consistency with the WTO legal framework, notably the GATS . It stated that i ts proposal 
fully respected the scope of the initiative and did not address market acc ess, investment protection 
and Investor -State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).  The delegation pointed out that its proposal included 
some placeholders , and reserved its right to submit proposals on specific issues at a later stage.  
6  OTHER BUSINESS  
6.1.  Ambassador Galvez announced that his posting in Geneva was concluding at the end of 
February 2020.  He said that, a s of March, his successor – Mathias Francke from Chile – would  take 
up the mantle of coordinator. He  further indicated that Mr Francke would  be travelling to  Geneva , 
ahead of the first substantive meeting  in March , to meet with interested delegations.  
 
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6 Document INF/IFD/RD/39, dated 24 July 2019.  
7 Dated 26 February 2020.