INF/IFD/W/16  
 
24 February 2020 
(20-1388) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCU SSIONS ON  
INVESTMENT  FACILITATION FOR DEV ELOPMENT  
 
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETI NG OF 2 7 FEBRUARY 2020 
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
This annotated agenda  is intended to facilitate discussions at the organizational meeting  to be held 
on 27 February 2020.1  
Following the decision taken by participating Members at the meeting held on 12 December 2019  to 
move into negotiating mode as of the first substantive meeti ng this year2 and the aim expressed by 
participating Members to work towards achieving a concrete outcome at MC123, work in the months  
ahead will focus on further developing the elements and specific provisions of a multilateral 
framework on investment fac ilitation for development . Also as agreed at that meeting, work in the 
coming months will be carried out on the basis of the Streamlined Text, prepared under the 
Coordinator's  responsibility at the request of participating Members  and circulated in January 20204, 
as well as any text proposals or contributions that Members may wish to submit . 
The main purpose of this organizational meeting is to agree on the proposed work plan for the period 
from March to May 2020, with a view to or ganizing the discussions in a transparent, efficient and 
productive manner.  The meeting will also provide an opportunity to introduce the Streamlined Text , 
as well as any available written proposals or contributions submitted by  Members  in preparation for 
the first substantive meeting in March . 
In keeping with the Joint I nitiative 's open, transpar ent and inclusive nature , all Members are invited 
to attend and participate  in the meeting .  
1  LATEST DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE LAST MEETI NG  
1.1.  The Co ordinator will inform Members about the Ministerial gathering on Investment Facilitation 
for Development , as well as a meeting on "Easing Investment Worldwide " attended by CEOs, 
ministers  and other stakeholders , held  during the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2020 .5 
Members may also take the opportunity to inform of other relevant developments.  
2  ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND OBJECTIVES FOR JANUARY – MAY 2020  
2.1.  After a brief introduction by the Coordinator of the work plan and objectives for the  period  up 
to MC12 , Members  will be invited to  share any comments on the "Proposed Schedule of Meetings"  
circulated on 10 February 20206, and the "Proposed Working Methodology " (annex ed to this 
annotated agenda ), or any other organisational matters , as they  deem appropriate . 
 
1 See the revised convening notice sent to all delegations on 7 February 2020.  
2 See the summary of the "stock -taking and next steps" meeting of the Structured Discussions on 
Investment Facilitation for Development held on 12 December 2019, contained in d ocument INF/IFD/R/10, 
dated 17 Jan uary 2020.  
3 Document WT/L/1072/Rev.1, dated 22 N ovember 2019.  
4 The "Streamlined Text" is contained in document INF/IFD/RD/ 45, dated 17 January 2020. 
5 Document INF/IFD/W/13.  
6 INF/IFD/W/15/Rev.1.  INF/IFD/W/16  
 
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  3  PRESENTATION/INTRODU CTION OF THE STREAMLINED TEXT  
3.1.  Prepared under the responsibility of the Coordinator, the "Streamlined Text", which is based 
on the Working Document7 and the detailed substantive discussions held during the period 
Septe mber – December 2019, aims at helping Members to further develop the elements and specific 
provisions of a multilateral framework on investment facilitation  for development . Its content, 
structure and wording do not, in any way, prejudice the position of any delegation, or its right to 
make any proposal for consideration by Members. After an introduction by the Coordinator , Members  
will be invited to provide their preliminary/general views on the  Stream lined Text , as they deem 
appropriate.  
4  PRESENTATION/INTRODU CTION OF  ANY AVAILABLE TEXT PROPO SALS OR 
CONTRIBUTIONS BY MEM BERS  
4.1.  The floor will be open for any available written proposals or contributions that Members may 
wish to present/introduce . 
5  OTHER BUSINESS  
_______________  
 
7 The " Working Document " is contained in document INF/IFD/RD/ 39, dated 24 July 2019.  INF/IFD/W/16  
 
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  ANNEX  
PROPOSED WORKING METHODOLOGY  
MARCH– MAY 2020 
The following working methodology 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 March  – May 2020.  
1. Following the decision taken by participating Members to move into negotiating mode as of the 
first substantive meeting this year1 and the aim expressed by participating Members to work 
towards achieving a concrete outcome at MC122, work in the upcoming months will focus on 
further devel oping the elements and specific provisions of a multilateral framework on 
investment facilitation for development . 
 
2. The Streamlined Text together with any other available text proposals or contributions that 
Members may wish to submit will serve as a basis  for Members' substantive discussions  on the 
different issues under consideration . Members wishing to submit text contributions  or proposals 
are encouraged to submit them in advance of each meeting so as to provide Members with 
adequate time to review them  before the meeting . 
3. The Coordinator will prepare an informal consolidated text on the basis of the streamlined text 
and any available text proposals or contributions by Members with the aim of facilitating 
discussions, delegations' consultations in their respective capitals and outreach efforts towards 
other Members.  
4. At each of the three substantive meetings already scheduled, participating Members will review 
all the elements of the streamlined text  alongside any other available text proposals or 
contribu tions by Members, on a thematic, element -by-element basis. Members will have the 
opportunity to revert to issues discussed at previous meetings or raise any investment 
facilitation -related issues at every meeting. The Coordinator may convene additional int er-
sessional meetings  and/or informal meetings  under different formats and configurations to 
discuss specific elements/issues under consideration, as appropriate.   
5. A short non -attributable informal summary  will be prepared under the Coordinator's 
responsibility for circulation to all Members after each meeting . After each substantive meeting, 
the Coordinator will make drafting suggestions reflecting the comments  made by Members on 
the different issues under consideration . Those drafting suggestions by the Coordinator will be 
circulated to Members as soon as possible after each substantive meeting for their consideration 
at the following meeting.  
6. In keeping with the Joint Initiative's open, transparent and in clusive nature, all Members are  
invited to attend and participate in the meetings of the Structured Discussions.  
7. As in previous meetings , experts from international organizations – such as the ITC, OECD, 
UNCTAD and the World Bank Group – will be invited to attend , as observers , this phase of the 
Structured Discussions .3 
 
__________  
 
1 See the summary of the meeting of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for 
Development held on 12 December 2019, contained in d ocument INF/IFD/R/10, dated 17 Jan uary 2 020. 
2 Document WT/L/1072/Rev.1, dated 22 N ovember 2019.  
3 Experts  from international organizations  will attend the meetings  as observers , replying to questions 
or contributing in any other way  if requested  by any Member .