INF/MSME/CN/22  
 
20 June 2023 
(23-4203) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 19 June 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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The Informal Working Group on MSMEs will hold its next regular meeting in hybrid mode in room W 
and through the Interprefy platform on Monday 3 July  2023, starting at 10 a.m. ( all-day meeting) . 
A technical guide summarizing logistical details for participa tion in Interprefy meetings will be made 
available on the Members' interactive calendar of meetings, and can also be found at: 
WTO Interprefy D elegate Guide . 
The following items , based on the work program adopted by the Group at its March 2023 meeting,  
are proposed for the agenda:  
1  PROMOTING MSMES' ACCESS TO INFORMATION (PILLAR 1)  
1.1  Presentation of the new Trade4MSMEs website  
The Secretariat will present the revamped version of the Trade4MSMEs website released  on 27 June 
for MSME Day . With the support of the Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE&IT),  the 
Trade4MSMEs website has been completely  redesigned, and new fea tures as well as regional and 
country pages have been added . 
1.2  Presentation of the Trade Game  
The Secretariat will present the new Trade Game developed jointly with IOE&IT. This virtual "choose 
your own adventure" game brings players through some of the deci sions and challenges of exporting.  
2  BUILDING CAPACITY TO PROMOTE MSMES' GREATER INCLUSION IN INTERNATIONAL 
TRADE (PILLAR 2)  
At the March 2023 meeting  of the Group, several concrete deliverables were proposed under pillar 2 
of the work program , including Handbooks compiling the MSME and Policymaker Guides of the 
Trade4MSMEs platform and a compendium of good practices related to MSME integration in national  
Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programs.  
2.1  Handbooks for MSMEs and Policymakers  
Follow ing the release of the  revamped version of the Trade4MSMEs platform , it is suggested to 
prepare  the Handbooks compiling the MSME and Policymaker Guides for publication at MC13. The 
Handbooks could form part of the Group's MC13 deliverables. Group members w ill be invited to 
agree on the proposed timeline.  INF/MSME/CN/22  
 
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  2.2  AEO programs and MSMEs  
In order to advance discussions on AEO programs and MSMEs, the World Customs Organization  has 
been invited to brief the Group on their AEO -related work, inclu ding their AEO database a nd AEO 
SME guidelines.  Group members will be invited to share their own experience with AEO programs 
and MSMEs and to discuss how to further advance work on this issue.  
3  THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS (PILLAR 3)  
Under pillar 3 of the work program, the MSME Group continue s exploring issues of particular interest 
to MSME trade with a view, where relevant, to developing policy guidance.   
3.1  Support for Women -Owned MSMEs (UK communication INF/MSME/W/43 dated 
13 June 2023)  
Organi zed by the United Kingdom, this item will f ocus on sharing best practices for supporting the 
growth of women -owned  MSMEs. The UK has circulated a communication and will present on 
supporting women -owned MSMEs access to finance. All members are encouraged to participate in 
the discussion and share t heir experiences of supporting women -owned  MSMEs.   
3.2  Digitalization  
Building on previous discussions  and presentations on digital -related issues such as MLETR, cyber -
readiness, and standards , this item will include:  
a. A presentation by Ms Hannah Nguyen, Director of Ecosystems of the ICC Digital 
Standards Initiative , who will speak on digitalization and the importance of MLETR and 
of using digital standards to promote trade digitalization  and support MSME trade ; 
b. A presentation by Mr Stéphane  Graber , Director General of FIATA , who will share 
FIATA's experience in digit alizing trade , how digitalization can help MSMEs , and data 
governance issues.  
3.3  Other topics  
In addition to digitalization, t opics mentioned at the March 2023 meeting included MSM E provisions 
in RTAs; low -value shipments; sustainability; rural MSMEs; informality; and how AI could benefit 
MSME access to information and trade participation.  
Members will be invited to indicate which of these already -mentioned , or new , topic(s) they would 
like to discuss  and how they propose to organize work.  
4  IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR DECEMBER 2020 PACKAGE (PILLAR 4)  
The fourth pillar of the work program focuses on implementation of the December 2020 MSME 
package.  At this most recent meeting, three  members reported on their inclusion of MSME 
information in their TPRs and one member reported on their plans to do so later in 2023.  
4.1  Update by m embers  
Members will be invited to share updates  on actions taken to implement the December 2020 MSME 
package  (INF/MSME/4/Rev.2) . In particular, members will be invited to report on:  
• Inclusion of MSME information in TPRs  – for members having recently undergone a TPR  
(Annex 1 of INF/MSME/4/Rev.2)  
• Actions taken to support the Global Trade Helpdesk  (Annex 2)  
• Trade facilitation measures for MSMEs  (Annex 3)  INF/MSME/CN/22  
 
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  • Inclusion of MSMEs in the development of trade regulations to minimize regulatory 
burden  (Annex 4)  
• Implementation of the 2019 IDB  Decision (Annex 5)  
• Actions taken to facilitate MSME access to finance, including trade finance, and cross -
border payments  (Annex 6).  
4.2  Presentation o f the Financial Inclusion in Trade Roadmap (related to Annex 6  of the 
2020 MSME package ) 
In April 2023, the World Trade Board , a group of global leaders, innovative thinkers, industry 
influencers and subject matter experts from the different corners of trade, finance and commerce 
issued the Financial Inclusion in Trade Roadmap.  The Roadmap identifies five key areas where 
coordinated action can help advance financial inclusion of small businesses . These include digital 
infrastructure, legal/regulatory infrastructure, data infrastructure, technical assistance and new 
funding source s. 
Mr Michael Vrontamitis , trade finance expert and co-author of the Roadmap, will present the key 
findings of the Roadmap, including recommendations to national  governments.  
5  STRENGTHENING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER 
STAKEHOLDERS (PILLAR 5) 
The fifth pillar of the work program focuses on engagement with the private sector and other 
organizations.  
5.1  Trade4MSMEs  Network  
The next meeting of the Trade4MSMEs Network will take place on 28 June from 3  p.m. to 5 p.m. 
(Meeting Registration - Zoom ). Under this agenda item, Group members will be invited to share 
their views on the 28 June meeting discussions, in parti cular on opportunities for joint work with 
other organizations .  
5.2  Small Business Champion Winners  
The winners of the 2023 edition of the Small Business Champion initiative "Helping Smallholder 
Farmers Go International" announced on MSME Day will be invited to briefly present their project.  
5.3  ITC Alliances for Action  
In line with the focus of the 2023 edition of the Small Business Champion initiative, the ITC has been 
invited to present Alliances for Action , an ITC initiative t hat aims to  transform food system s and 
advance the Sustainable Development Goals through producer partnerships that cultivate ethical, 
climate -smart, sustainable agricultural value chains. The initiative helps smallholder farmers achiev e 
resilience and growth . The ITC will present key les sons learned from their actions on the ground.  
Members will be invited to exchange experience and good practices on how best to support 
smallholder farmers to achieve resilience and go international.  
6  MC13 PLANNING  
Group members will be invited to share their views on the format and content of an MC13 MSME 
outcome.  
7  OTHER BUSINESS  
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