INF/MSME/CN/2  
 
15 October 2019  
(19-6682) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GRO UP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice,  dated 15 October 2019 , 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 on 29 October 2019, 
starting at 10:00 a.m.  
 
The following items are proposed for the agenda:  
 
1  REVIEW OF PROPOSALS  
Discussion of the proposals received in the order of the standing agenda.  
 
1.1  MSME -related information i n TPRs  
Proposal by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Russian Federation, and Uruguay 
(INF/MSME/7/Rev.1).  
1.2  MSMEs platform proposal  
Proposal by Guatemala, Mexico, and Uruguay (INF/MSME/W/3/Rev.1).  
1.3  Access to information: Global Trade Helpdesk  
Proposal by Switzerland (INF/MSME/W/11). A background note entitled " Global Trade Helpdesk 
assessment in preparation towards MC12 " was prepared by the ITC to provide information on the 
state-of-play of the Global Trade Helpdesk  (INF/MSME/W/15) . 
1.4  Trade facilita tion 
Proposal by the Coordinator (INF/MSME/W/14). A background note entitled " Trade Facilitation  
Agreement Provisions, MSMES' Pain Points, Recommendations and Good Practices " was prepared by 
the Secretariat to help inform discussions under this agenda item (INF/MSME/W/8).  
1.5  Good regulatory practices  
• Proposal on Good Regulatory Practices by Uruguay (INF/MSME/W/12).  
• Background documents on this topic:  
• Communication by Canada entitled " Small Business Lens " (INF/MSME/W/13).  
• Secretariat's note on " Good Regulatory Practices and Small Business Lens Principle " 
(INF/MSME/W/9) . INF/MSME/CN/2  
 
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  1.6  Implementation of the newly adopted IDB Decision  
Communication from Canada on " MSME s and the WTO Integrated Database " (INF/MSME/W/10).  
2  ROAD TO MC12  
Planning for MC12  – Members will be invited to give their views on the following:  
 
• Other issues on which recommendations could be developed . 
• What issues should be included in a work programme?  
• How do we organize ourselves in the lead -up to MC12 to ensure the broadest support possible?  
3  REVIEW  OF MSME -RELATED DISCUSSIONS IN WTO COMMITTEES, W ORKING GROUPS 
AND PROGRAMMES  
Members of the Group will be briefed on MSME -related discussions in the Working Group on Trade, 
Debt and Finance, on latest STDF developments related to MSMEs, and on the newly a dopted IDB 
decision.  
 
4  REVIEW OF OUTREACH A CTIVITIES  
4.1  Outreach to other Members  
Review of outreach to other Members and discussion of the way forward.  
4.2  Outreach to other organizations  
• Review of outreach to other organizations and discussion of the way forward . 
• Presentations by:  
• Ms Aksinya Sorokina, SME Banking Specialist at IFC/World Bank Group on Supply Chain 
Finance for SMEs on the IFC's work regarding SME trade finance.  
• Mr Ian Sayers, Head, Access to Finance and Enterprise Stability on Trade Finance and the 
ITC. 
• Mr Paul Donohoe, Digital Economy and Trade Programme Manager, UPU, on postal trade 
facilitation and SME enablement . 
• Mr Salehin Khan, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, UN Economic Commission for Europe, 
on the UN Integrated Services for MSMEs in International Trade (ISMIT) . 
• WCO representative, on work done by the WCO concerning Single windows and Authorized 
Economic Operator Programmes (tbc  – via videoconference). More information available 
here: ( http://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/facilitation/instrument -and-tools/frameworks -
of-standards/safe_package.aspx ). 
4.3  Outreach to the private sector  
• Briefing by the Coordinator on the survey on Single windows and Authorized Economic 
Operators Programmes issued via  the MSME Ideas Exchange platform.  
  INF/MSME/CN/2  
 
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  • How to create new pathways for more direct communication between MSMEs and the MSME 
Informal Working Group.  
5  OTHER BUSINESS  
 
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