INF/MSME/CN/7  
27 November 2020 
(20-8598) Page: 1/5 
 
  Original: English  
 
  
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 27 November  2020, 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 virtual mode  through 
the Interprefy platform on Friday 11 December 2020, starting at 10:00 a.m.  
 
The annex lays out relevant organisational and technical arrangements.  
 
The following  items are proposed for the agenda:  
 
1  UPDATE ON THE DEVELOP MENT OF THE TRADE4MSMES  WEB PLATFORM  
1.1.  Update by Mexico.  
2  OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF THE MSME PACKAGE  
2.1.  Members of the Group will be invited to officially endorse the package of recommendations and 
declarations circulated as INF/MSME/3 according to the single undertaking principle.  
3  OUTREACH  
3.1.  Members of the Group will be invited to review  outreach initiatives  to non -IWG members aimed 
at building support for th e package.  
4  ADOPTION OF THE 2020 DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT  
4.1.  Members of the Group will be invited to adopt the 2020 draft annual report circulated in 
INF/MSME /W/28/Rev.1. 
5  ORGANIZATION OF WORK IN 2021  
5.1.  Members of the Group will be invited to discuss the organization of work in 2021, including 
dates and formats of meetings and topics on which they would like to focus.  
5.2.  A consolidation of topics mentioned in the pac kage or put forward by members, the privat e 
sector and other stakeholders was prepared by the Secretariat at the request of the Coordinator to 
help guide discussions  (see document INF/MSME/W /29). 
6  MAPPING OF MSME SUPPORT MEASURES  
6.1.  Discussion on the way forward.  
7  OTHER BUSINESS  
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  ANNEX  
This annex lays out relevant organizational and technical arrangements.  
1  ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS  
1.1.  Both Geneva -based and capital -based officials of WTO Members and Observers are welcome 
to attend the meeting  virtually via the Interprefy platform. Both modes of participation will enjoy 
the sa me participation privileges. Simultaneous interpretation in the three WTO official languages 
will be provided.  
• In view of technical constraints, it is strongly recommended that virtual attendance be limited 
to a maximum of 3 persons per delegation . 
• All delegates wishing to attend the meeting, including capital -based officials, must, 
beforehand, register through the e-Registration  platform of the WTO website (please see 
the technical arrangements laid out further below ). 
• Any delegation experiencing technical difficulties  may call +41 22 739 6824 or email 
vcsupport@wto.org.  
• If technical difficulties result in delegations b eing unable to intervene virtually  under a 
given agenda item, the opportunity to take the floor will be given at an appropriate juncture 
before the meeting closes. Should the technical problem persist, delegations may contact the 
Secretariat (carole.boureu x@wto.org) during the course of the meeting, either to send their 
statement for it to be read out during the meeting, or to request that the Group be informed 
of their interest in the item under consideration and their intention to circulate their written 
statement to all Group members after the meeting.  
2  TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE  
2.1.  Delegations are kindly requested to review and take note of the technical arrangements for 
virtual attendance as set out further below.  
2.1  BEFORE THE MEETING  
2.2.  It is recommended that delegates log-in one hour before the start of the meeting to have 
an opportunity to test the connection and familiarize themselves with the functionalities of the 
system.  
2.3.  Device : Please do not use smartphones nor iPADs/tablet s if you wish to take the floor during 
the meeting.  
2.4.  Browser : To connect to the meeting, please use either:  
 
 
2.5.  Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge will not work.  
2.6.  Location : Please stay in a fixed location.  
2.7.  Headset : a plug -in is the preferred option. Avoid Blueto oth devices if you wish to take the 
floor. 
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  2.2  JOINING THE MEETING  
2.8.  Login to the WTO website with your WTO credentials  by clicking on the "Login" button in 
the top right corner. Your credentials are the email and password with which you registered through 
the W TO E-Registration platform.1 
2.9.  Once you are logged -in, click on TRADE TOPICS in the top row and then click on JOINT 
INITIATIVES and finally on Small Business/MSMEs  
(http://workingserver/english/tratop_e/msmes_e/msmes_e.htm ), scroll down to the table listing 
forthcoming meetings , and especially to the 11 December  meeting.  
2.10.  Click on the link " Access the meeting in Interprefy " (see an example below) and insert 
again your WTO credentials (the same email and password as before). You will then be taken directly 
to the virtual meeting on the Interprefy platform.  
 
 
2.11.  Allow  the system to access the microphone and camera . 
 
 
2.12.  Simultaneous interpretation in all three official languages will be provided. Choose your 
preferred language (Please note: "None " means listening to the floor, without interpretation). If 
you do not hear sound on the "None" channe l, try switching to one of the language specific channels.  
 
 
 
1 If you are able to login onto the Members' restricted WTO website using your nominative email and 
password, then no action is needed. Otherwise, you will need to obtain credentials from your WTO Mission's 
Delegation Coordinator (DC), who will to register y ou on the E -Registration system.  
To ensure a valid account, the DC should:  
1. connect to eregistration.wto.org with his/her WTO need credentials;  
2. check if the delegate concerned already has a profile – if not, create one;  
3. make sure there is a login  email in the delegate's profile;  
4. make sure the checkbox called "Virtual Meeting Access" or "VMA" is checked;  
5. click on "Send invitation to user to Set/Reset the password " – and the delegate will receive an email 
with a secure link so that he/she can create or reset her/his own individual password.  
All main and alternate DCs can create/modify delegates' profiles in their delegation.  
INF/MSME/CN/7  
 
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2.3  DURING THE MEETING  
2.13.  To request the floor, press the "Raise Hand" button. The Chairman and Secretariat will be 
able to see delegates requesting the floor.  
   
 
2.14.  When the Chairman gives you the floor, you will see the following message. Please select 
VIDEO . 
 
 
2.15.  Please allow a few seconds of streaming before starting your intervention, to ensure you’re 
your statement is heard in full. Remember to speak at a moderate pace to facilitate simultaneous 
interpretation.  
2.16.  Once you have completed your intervention, click on the Disconnect button. This will not 
disconnect you from the meeting  – it will only stop transmitting your voice and image.  
 
 
2.4  AFTER THE MEETING  
IMPORTANT : Click the "log out" button (top right) after every Interprefy session 
otherwise you will continue to remain in that session and therefore unable to access the next one.  
 
 
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  2.5  MEETING TIPS  
Video  
 • Turn on an overhead/front light and face a window if possible.  
• Avoid backlight and frame your image and check the background – simple/neutral is 
best. 
• If you are speaking: keep any visual distractions to a minimum and replicate eye - 
contact by looking to the camera.  
 
Sound  
 • Choose a quiet environment and reduce background noise (indoors in an echo -free 
place).  
• Use only one device at a time.  
• Adjust the headset (do not put the microphone too close to your mouth) and the 
volume of your headphones.  
• When taking the floor, talk directly into the microphone, without turning your head 
away and moving the microphone.  
• Speak clearly with a normal voice when you take the floor, at a moderate pace . 
 
 
 
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT ANY POINT, PLEASE CALL +41 22 739 68 24 
OR EMAIL vcsupport@wto.org  
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