INF/MSME/R/29  
 
7 December 2021  
(21-9191) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSME  
OPEN -ENDED MEETING OF 8 NOVEMBER  2021 
Summary of discussions  
The following communication, dated 7 December  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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The MSME Informal Working Group (MSME Group) met for its last open -ended meeting before MC12 
on 8 November 2021. A total of 74 delegatio ns1 attended the hybrid meeting, including 
19 non-working Group members (Cambodia; Central African Republic; Egypt; The Gambia; Georgia; 
Haiti; Jamaica; Jordan; Maldives; Morocco; Nepal; Niger; Seychelles; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Togo; 
Tunisia; United States  of America; and Zimbabwe).  
 
1  SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS  
1.1.  The MSME Group's discussions centred on activities planned for MC12, including the 
endorsement by Ministers of the Draft MSME Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(21)/1); the launch of 
the Trade4MSMEs web plat form for WTO Members; and two side events on the margins of the 
Business Forum on 2 December to inform businesses about this new online resource and to award 
the Digital Champions for Small Business. Outreach for non -members to join the MSME Group and 
sign the Declaration was encouraged by the Coordinator.  
1.2.  Mexico updated the Group on the progress of development of the Trade4MSMEs web platform. 
Revised MSME and policymaker roadmaps have been implemented and MSME guides are uploaded 
with completed policymaker guides to follow. Members were again encouraged to review and 
comment on the website.  
1.3.  Implementation of the December 2020 package was discussed. Following  Annex 1 of the 
package related to TPRs, the Russian Federation and China both noted their  inclusion of MSME 
information as per the Annex 1 checklist in their recently concluded TPRs. T he Secretariat also 
presented the completed online database of MSME references in TPRs, now available on the WTO 
website . Members have also been providing update s on information resources and contacts for the 
Global Trade Helpdesk (GTH) for Annex 2 as requested by the ITC at the Group's September 
meeting . Under Annex 5 related to implementation of the IDB decision, Uruguay reported updates 
on its efforts to implem ent the IDB decision which is expected to be completed in early 2022 . 
 
1 Argentina; Australia; Bahrain , Kingdom of ; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia ; Canada; 
Central  African  Republic ; Chile; China; Colombia; Côte d'Ivoire; Czech Republic; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; 
Egypt ; El Salvador; European Union; Finland; France; The Gambia; Georgia ; Germany; Greece; Guatemala; 
Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong , China ; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica ; Japan; Jordan ; Kazakhstan; 
Latvia; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Maldives ; Mexico; Moldova , Republic of ; Morocco ; Myanmar; Nepal ; 
New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger ; Nigeria; Norway; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Russian Federation;  
Saudi  Arabia , Kingdom of ; Seychelles ; Singapore; Slovenia; Spain; Sri Lanka ; Sweden; Switzerland; the 
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia ; Turkey; Uganda; 
Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States  of Americ a; Uruguay; Viet Nam;  Zimbabwe  (non-MSME Group 
members are in italics ). INF/MSME/R/29  
 
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  1.4.  The Group received one presentation by WIPO's Assistant Director General, Marco Aleman 
regarding the tools and supports the organization is developing for MSME IP by WIPO's IP Business 
Division. MSMEs are important to the global economy, but they do not always know how to make 
the best use of IP or its potential benefits to increase competitiveness and visibility as well as to 
avoid the risk of unknowingly infringing on proprietary conten t. WIPO is actively working to develop 
resources for MSMEs related to IP. These include an IP diagnostic tool, IP for business guides (this 
includes guides currently in development on IP and technologies like artificial intelligence and Big 
Data), a list o f intermediaries and IP support offices that MSMEs can contact, IP management 
support, and information on IP and finance such as IP -backed finance. The WIPO IP Business Division 
is also currently supporting a number of projects and activities for MSMEs in the economies of many 
MSME Group members. WIPO also works to provide training and support services through the 
development of business support units in national IP offices, mapping of MSME intermediary 
institutions and their services, the Investor Assistan ce Program (IAP) and patent drafting programs. 
ADG Aleman noted WIPO's interest in providing regular updates to the MSME Group to maintain 
open communication channels and keep the Group apprised of WIPO's efforts.  
2  NEXT STEPS  
2.1.  MSME meetings for 2022 are curr ently scheduled for 8 February, 11 May, 24 June, 12 October, 
and 8 December.  
 
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