INF/IFD/W/7  
 
16 September 2019  
(19-5927) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCU SSIONS ON INVESTMENT  
FACILITATION FOR DEV ELOPMENT  
 
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETI NG OF 23 SEPTEMBER 2 019 
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
Following the convening notice sent to all delegations on 11 September 2019, this  annotated agenda  
is intended to facilitate discussions at the organizational meeting  to be held on 23 September 2019  
concerning the next phase of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development. 
Pursuant to the guidance of the Joint Ministerial Statement,1 work starting  in the second  part of 
2019 will pursue the development of  the possible elements of a multilateral framework on 
investment facilitation for development using , as a basis , the working document prepared and 
circulated by the Coordinator in July 2019,2 under his responsibility and at the request of 
participating Members (hereinafter the "Working Document "). 
In keeping with the Joint I nitiative 's open, transpar ent and inclusive nature , all Members are invited 
to attend and participate  in the meetings . Attendance of/participation in the meetings is without 
prejudice to Members' position on the joint initiative.  
Building on the "stock -take and next steps" meeting held on 18 July 20193 and consultations with 
delegations, this m eeting will provide an opportunity for Members to comment on the proposed work 
plan for the period from September to December 2019, with a view to organizing the next phase of 
the discussions in a transparent, efficient and productive manner.  The meeting w ill also provide an 
opportunity to share preliminary views on the working document.  
1  ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE PERIOD SEPTE MBER – DECEMBER 
2019  
1.1.  After a brief introduction by the Coordinator of the proposed work plan and objectives for the  
months ahead , Members  will be invited to  share any comments on the "Proposed Schedule of 
Meetings"  circulated alongside this annotated agenda , and the "Proposed Working Methodology " 
(annex ed to this annotated agenda ), or any other organisational matters , as they deem appropriate . 
2  PRESENTATION/INTRODU CTION OF THE WORKING  DOCUMENT  
2.1.  Prepared under the responsibility of the Coordinator, the working document, which is based on 
the "Compendium of text -based examples" ,4 is a tool aimed at h elping Members focus their 
discussions and better visualize the possible form that a framework on investment facilitation for 
development could take. Its content, structure and format is without prejudice to the position of 
Members in the discussions. Afte r an introduction by the Coordinator , Members  will be invited to 
provide their preliminary/general views on the working document, as they deem appropriate.  
3  OTHER BUSINESS  
_______________  
                                                
1 Joint Ministerial Statement on Investment Facilitation for Development of 13 December 2017 
contained in document WT/MIN(17)/59.  
2 The Working Document is contained in document INF/IFD/RD/39, dated 24 July 2019.  
3 The Informal Summary is contained in docum ent INF/IFD/R/5, dated 24 July 2019.  
4 The latest version of the "Compendium of Text -Based Examples" is contained in document 
INF/IFD/RD/5/Rev.3, dated 15 July 2019.  INF/IFD/W/7  
 
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  ANNEX  
PROPOSED WORKING METHODOLOGY  
SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER  2019 
The following information has been prepared under the Coordinator's responsibility to assist Members 
in the next phase of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development for the 
period September -December 2019 as per the proposed sched ule of meetings.  
1. In keeping with the Joint Initiative's open, transparent and inclusive nature, all Members are 
invited to attend and participate in the meetings of the Structured Discussions. Attendance 
of/participation in the meetings is without prejudi ce to Members' position on this Joint 
Initiative.  
2. For each meeting, Members are encouraged to actively participate in the discussions and to 
provide their concrete views /positions  on each of the different issues under consideration . 
3. The working document  will serve as a basis for Members' substantive discussions  on the 
different issues under consideration . Members wishing to make text contributions  are 
encouraged to submit them if possible 10 calendar days in advance of each meeting, to allow  
the Coordinator to circulate them to all Members  before the meeting . 
4. At every meeting, Members will have the opportunity to revert to issues discussed at 
previous meetings or raise any investmen t facilitation -related issues.  
5. A short non -attributable informal summary , as well as an assessment by the Coordinator of 
the possible future development of the different issues discussed,  will be prepared under the 
Coordinator's responsibility for circula tion to all Members  after each meeting .  
6. As in previous meetings , experts from international organizations – such as the ITC, OECD, 
UNCTAD and the World Bank Group – might be invited to attend , as observers , this phase 
of the Structured Discussions .1 
 
__________  
                                                
1 Experts  from international organizations  would not make pr esentations unless requested. They would 
attend the meetings  as observers , replying to questions or contributing in any other way  if requested .