INF/IFD/R/ 5 
 
24 July 2019  
(19-4922) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCU SSIONS ON INVESTMENT  FACILITATION FOR DE VELOPMENT  
MEETING OF 18 JULY  2019 
STOCK -TAKING AND NEX T STEPS  
Summary of discussions  by the Coordinator1 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  On 18 July 2019, the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development held 
an open -ended meeting, coordinated by H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos González (Colombia). As indicated in 
the annotated agenda (INF/IFD/W/6), the purpose of the meeting was twofold: (i)  to take stock of 
the work done in the first part of the year and review the latest version of the 'Compendium of Text -
based Examples'; and (ii) to discuss  the next step s of the Structured Discussions in  the months 
ahead.  
1.2.  The meeting was very well attende d, with many Members represented at ambassador ial level , 
as well as some  high level representatives from capital.  
2  OPENING REMARKS BY W TO DIRECTOR -GENERAL ROBERTO AZEVÊDO  
2.1.  Following an invitation by the Coordinator, WTO Director -General Roberto Azevêdo delivered 
opening remarks. The D irector -General  welcomed the progress made to date  by the initiative  and 
commended participants for advancing the Structured Discussions in an open, transparent and 
inclusive manner.  He welcomed participating Members' resolve to look ahead to define potential 
deliverables for the WTO's Twelfth Ministerial Conference in 2020.  The speech is available on the 
WTO website  (https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news19_e/infac_18jul19_e.htm ). 
3  STOCKTAKING OF WORK OVER THE PERIOD JANU ARY-JUNE 2019 AND NE XT STEPS  
3.1.  An informal note by the Coordinator entitled "Stock -Taking and Next Steps" had been circulated 
prior to the meeting (INF/IFD/RD/38, 9 July 2019). The Coordinator explained that the informal note 
reflected  six months of continued engagement and work in the example -based  discussions, a s well 
as extensive bilateral consultati ons with delegations throughout that period, including  more recently 
on 1 and 2 July.  
3.2.  During these consultations, the Coordinator had received feedback on three main issues: (i) 
Members' assessment of the example -based discussions in the first half of 201 9; (ii) Members' views 
on how to make further progress on investment facilitation for development towards the 12th Session 
of the Ministerial Conference (MC12) to be held in June 2020; and (iii) Members' views on how to 
best leverage the Compendium of Text -Based Examples2 to move forward the discussions.  
3.3.  In terms of stock -taking of the work done, as further developed in the informal note, the 
example -based phase of the discussions, from January to June 2019, was a period of intense work. 
Five open -ended m eetings  were held ( on 30 January, 4 March, 11 April, 16 May and 25 June) , during 
                                                
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 The latest version of the Compendium of Text -Based Examples, including submissions made for the 
meeting on 25 June, is contained in document INF/IFD/RD/5/R  ev.3, dated 15 July 2019.  INF/IFD/R/ 5 
 
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  which the elements and issues in the Checklist of Issues Raised by Members3 were addres sed. 
Discussions were based on concrete examples, including text -based examples and suggestions 
submitted by Members. These examples and suggestions illustrated how the possible elements of a 
multilateral framework might be further developed.  
3.4.  Attendance a nd participation at the meetings over the period were high, leading to substantive 
and interactive discussions. Between March and June 2019, a total of 40 written submissions 
containing text examples and suggestions were received. In addition, four delegat ions made 
presentations on different aspects of their domestic or regional arrangements to facilitate 
investments. Examples drawing from WTO text were also put forward by the Coordinator, with a 
view to complementing Members' submissions as appropriate.  
3.5.  Work ha d been Member -driven and outcome -oriented. As agreed by participating Members at 
the meeting held on 4 March 2019, the Coordinator prepared under his responsibility a "Compendium 
of the Text-Based Examples" subm itted for discussion, which was updated after each meeting.  The 
Compendium organized the examples in a coherent and user -friendly manner .  
3.6.  Turning to the next steps, the Coordinator said that a s evidenced by the high level of 
participation and engagement during the past meetings, and as revealed by his informal 
consultations prior to this meeting, there was a general sense among participating Members that 
the Structured Discussions ha d made good progress in the development of the possible elements of 
the m ultilateral framework, following the guidance of the Joint Ministerial Statement. In  his view, 
the discussions on the basis of concrete text examples  and suggestions  allowed Members to start 
visualizing which form the different elements - and the different  issues within them - could take.  
3.7.  Discussions showed significant areas of convergence, areas of common interest, as well as 
areas that need ed further consideration. The Compendium of Text-Based Examples proved to be a 
valuable tool to picture those differ ent areas, and to help advance the discussions. Both at the 
meeting  of 25 June  and in the informal consultations, participating Members strongly supported the 
Compendium and stressed its value in helping identify convergence amongst examples while moving 
towards more outcome -oriented discussions. Furthermore, there was a widespread view that the 
Compendium provide d a solid basis to build upon in the months ahead.   
3.8.  Since  the beginning of the year, the Structured Discussions ha d started to develop the possibl e 
elements of a framework on investment facilitation for development, without placing them within  a 
framework. In that regard, the Coordinator got the  general sense from delegations that the time 
was ripe for the Structured Discussions to step up the devel opment of those elements by placing 
them within  a framework. There was a widespread view  among participating Members  that the next 
phase of the Structured Discussions would greatly benefit from focusing on a working document , 
that could be developed on the  basis of the Compendium.  Such a document would bring the following 
benefits: it would organize elements and issues within a coherent framework ; it would help  Members 
identify the areas of common interest, the areas of convergence, and focus on the areas i n need of 
further development ; the document would assist Members in better understanding the issues under 
discussion, while illustrating the possible form that a framework aimed at facilitating investments 
could take ; and it  would also assist delegations i n conducting consultations in their respective 
capitals, and provide a transparent and inclusive basis to intensify  outreach efforts, especially 
towards developing and least -developed Members.  
3.9.  He further indicated that w ork during the next months of the St ructured Discussions would 
continue to be Member -driven. The working document would be a tool intended to continue 
facilitating open, transparent and inclusive discussions. Like the Compendium and the Checklist, it 
would be a 'living document' that would b e updated and complemented in light of Members' inputs 
and suggestions. The document would provide the starting point for the next phase of the Structured 
Discussions towards a multilateral framework on investment facilitation for development.  
3.10.   A large number of delegations provided their views  at the meeting. Delegations expressed 
appreciation for the progress made so far in 2019 and commended the Coordinator for his leadership 
and successful approach. The proposal by the Coordinator to prepare a working document was fully 
supported by participating Members. Overall, delegations who intervened observed that the working 
document would be useful for Members to better visualize the initial contours of the framework, 
                                                
3 Check list of Issues Raised by Members, document without symbol, dated 9 November 2018.  INF/IFD/R/ 5 
 
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  inform their capital -based official s, continue their outreach efforts as well as gather views of 
stakeholders (notably investors  and business more generally ). The working document was generally 
perceived as the starting point of a more outcome -oriented phase, paving the way for contribution s 
by Members.  
3.11.   A key group of proponents (17 Members), confirmed its intention to achieve a concrete 
deliverable on investment facilitation at MC12  and suggested – together with another Member – that 
the initiative should move to text -based discussions . The group  of proponents  also requested the 
Coordinator to circulate the working document before his departure at the end of July. One Member 
emphasized the importance of moving seamlessly and naturally to the next phase and highlighted 
that substance should prevail over speed. Other Members stated that further progress in areas of 
common interest where convergence was still lacking was needed before moving to a more formal 
process. Furthermore, the latter delegations identified transparency as well as streaml ining and 
speeding up administrative procedures as the two priority areas of work for the months ahead. Other 
delegations stressed the need to keep development at the core of the initiative. The importance of 
intensifying the outreach, especially to other developing and least -developed countries, was also 
emphasized by many delegations. In view of the need to intensify work in the months ahead, 
participating Members also requested the Coordinator to circulate a program of work for the 
remainder of the year.   
3.12.   Noting participating Members' support to the proposed way forward suggested in  his Informal 
Note, and in response to their request at the meeting,  the Coordinator indicated that he would 
prepare and circulate a  working document  that would  be without prej udice to Members' negotiating 
positions and would  provide the starting point for the next phase of the Structured Discussions.  
Building on the latest version of the ' Compendium of Text-Based Examples ' and areas of common 
interest or convergence identified therein, the working document  would serve as a tool to  continue  
facilitat ing open, transparent and inclusive discussions .  Furthermore, as suggested by delegations, 
a tentative schedule of meetings for the remainder of the year would  be circulated to all M embers. 
A proper program of work , as requested by a number of delegations at the meeting,  would be 
circulated later on, for Members'  consideration before an organizational meeting to be held after the 
summer break.  
4  OTHER  BUSINESS  
4.1.  Ambassador González confirmed that, as Members were already aware, his assignment in 
Geneva would come to an end at the end of July . This was his last meeting as Coordinator of this 
initiative. After extensive consultations held by the outgoing Coordinator  over the last weeks, at this 
meeting participating Members appointed Ambassador Eduardo Gálvez (Chile) as the new 
Coordinator.  
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