WT/MIN(24)/INF/15  
 
21 February 2024  
(24-1606) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024    
 
 
NOTE TO DELEGATIONS  
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OPENING SESSION  
The Opening Session of the Thirteenth  WTO Ministerial Confer ence (MC13)  will be held on  
Monday, 26 February 2024  in the ICC Hall of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) .  
 
The Conference will be opened at 9:00 a.m. by the Chai rperson of Thirteenth Session of the 
Ministerial Conference, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi , Minister of State for Foreign Trade of 
the United Arab Emirates .  
 
The Opening Session will be divided into four parts.  
 
The first part will be the Ceremonial Opening Session  and will be attended by a Senior Leader of 
the United Arab Emirates and other dignitaries. The MC13 Chairperson, Senior UAE Leader, WTO 
Director -General, and the General Council Chairperson will address the Conference.  The Presidents 
of Comoros and Timor -Leste will be present.  
 
The second  part will be the transmittal of work from Geneva to the Ministerial Conference. T he 
Chairperson  of the General Co uncil will present to the Conference a report of the WTO activities in 
Geneva and will refer to the reports of the General Council, the TNC and the Negotiating Groups , 
and proposals made. The MC1 3 Chairperson will then propose the adoption of the agenda fo r the 
Thirteenth  Session of the Ministerial Conference, circulated in document WT/MIN(24)/W/1 , dated  
22 January 2024 .  
 
The third part will  be the accession ceremonies of Comoros and Timor -Leste . The MC13 
Chairperson will first take up the Accession of Comoros and immediately thereafter the Accession  of 
Timor -Leste. After the respective adoptions of the Working Party reports, draft Decisions , and 
approvals of the Protocols of the Accession, the Pre sidents of Comoros and Timor -Leste will address 
the conference. The Director -General will also make a statement . Thereafter, the signatures of the 
Accession Protocols will take place.  
 
The fourth part will be the ceremony for deposits of Instruments of Ac ceptance of the 
Fisheries Subsidies Agreement . The MC13 Chairperson and t he Director -General will provide brief 
remarks. Thereafter, the Master of Ceremonies will invite each Member depositing its instrument to 
the podium to deposit its instrument . 
 
The opening ceremony will then be declared closed by the MC13 Chairperson.  
 
1  SEATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OPENING SESSION  
Ministers and Heads of Delegation – that is, those wearing the red badges will be seated in the front 
area at their designated table – with three accompanying officials seated behind the Minister/Head 
of Delegation. This instruction also applies to Members  with more than one Minister. All other 
delegat es will sit at the designated area f or their Member/delegation with their chair band at the 
back part of the room.  WT/MIN(24)/INF/15  
 
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  2  ARRIVAL FOR OPENING CEREMONY  
Considering the presence of high -level dignitaries, delegations s hould arrive at the ICC Hall in 
the ADNEC  at least 60 minutes before the Opening Session — and preferably sooner . 
Delegations are kindly requested to be seated by 8:15 a.m., at which point the doors of the ICC 
Hall will be closed for the arrival of the Pre sident. Please note that no access to the ICC will be 
permitted once the doors are closed.  
 
Delegations are advised that the meeting will begin on time. In this regard, delegations are strongly 
encouraged to allow adequate time for any traffic -related delays and security clearances  in advance 
of the Opening Session.  
 
Ministers and Heads of Deleg ation are invited to use Entrance H  to access the ICC to attend the 
Opening Session. VIP cars will drop off Ministers / HoDs and those traveling in the sam e car at the 
drop-off point. Ministers and their entourages will need to pass through security at Ent rance H. 
Ministers and Heads of Delegation will be guided towards the "Majliss" – that is, the VIP Lounge and 
will enter the ICC Hall from there.  
 
All other participants are requested to access the ICC Hall using Entrance K   
 
(See map below)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
WT/MIN(24)/INF/15  
 
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  3  PROTOCOL  
All MC13 Badge holders will be allowed to attend the Opening Session. Please note that no special 
"Opening Session " badge will be required.  
 
4  DRESS CODE  
For the Opening Session, delegations are informed that the dress code for MC1 3, including the 
Opening Session, is business formal attire or national dress.  
 
5  PHOTOGRAPHY  
Delegations are kindly requested not to take photographs or to film the Opening Session.  
 
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