INF/MSME/CN/6  
6 October  2020 
(20-6844) Page: 1/8 
 Original:  English  
 
  
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 6 October  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 -person with a virtual 
add-on through the Interprefy platform, on Tuesday 20 October  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 INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP A MSME WEB PLATFORM  
1.1.  Update by Mexico.  
2  ENDORSEMENT OF THE DRAFT PACKAGE  
2.1.  Members of the Group will be invited to endorse the package of recommendations according 
to the single undertaking principle. The package is composed of:  
a) Cover Declaration  (INF/MSME/W/21/ Rev.4); 
b) Draft recommendation on the collection and maintenanc e of MSME -related information 
(INF/MSME/W/7/Rev.5 ); 
c) Draft declaration on access to information (INF/MSME/W/11/Rev.4 ); 
d) Draft recommendation on trade facilitation and MSMEs (INF/MSME/W/14/Rev. 6); 
e) Draft recommendation on promoting MSMEs ' inclusion in regulato ry development in the 
area of trade (INF/MSME/W/22/Rev.5 ); 
f) Draft recommendation on MSMEs and the WTO Integrated Database 
(INF/MSME/W/23/Rev.1);  
g) Draft declaration on addressing the trade -related aspects of MSMEs' access to finance and 
cross border payments (INF/MSME/W/25/Rev. 2). 
3  OUTREACH  
3.1.  Members of the Group will be invited to discuss the outreach strategy to non -IWG members 
with a view to building support for the package.  
4  MAPPING OF MSME SUPPORT MEASURES  
4.1.  Discussion on the way forward.  INF/MSME/CN/6  
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  5  NEXT STEPS  
5.1.  Planning of activities in the last quarter of the year, including outreach to the private sector 
and presentation of the package.  
6  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, either in -person, in Room S1 of the WTO, or vi rtually, 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.  
1.2.  With regard to in -person attendance:  
• For the health protection  of delegates and to respect the social distancing measures in place 
in Switzerland, only one person per delegation will be able to attend the meeting.  
• For contact tracing purposes, delegates will be asked to register, using the Registration 
function on th e WTO website  (please see the instructions laid out below ). 
• Delegates will have their body temperature measured by WTO security personnel when 
entering WTO premises and those with a body temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius will 
be invited to seek medical advice and attend WTO meetings virtually.  
• Delegates will be also invited to wear a face mask  while circulating within the WTO premises 
(masks will be provided upon request). No mask will be required in the meeting room unless 
the maximum capacity to maintain physical distance has been reached (i.e. 102 delegates) . 
• Delegates are encouraged to brin g their own earpieces . The Secretariat will distribute 
disinfectant wipes for the microphones and earpieces.  
• It is recommended to allow enough time to enter the WTO premises.  
1.3.  With regard to virtual attendance:  
• In view of technical constraints, it is strong ly 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 (p lease see 
the technical arrangements laid out in Annex).  
• Any delegation experiencing technical difficulties  may call +41 22 739 6824 or email 
vcsupport@wto.org.  
• If technical difficulties result in delegations being 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.boureux@wto.org) during the course of the meeting, e ither 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 meeti ng. 
2  TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS  
2.1.  Delegations are kindly requested to review and take note of the instructions for in -person 
registration and the technical arrangements for virtual attendance as set out further below, 
respectively.  INF/MSME/CN/6  
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  2.2.  Delegations' patience and effor ts in following these arrangements and understanding for the 
requirements and limitations imposed by the situation are highly appreciated.  
3  INSTRUCTIONS FOR IN -PERSON REGISTRATION  
3.1.  Log on to www.wto.org using your WTO credentials.  
3.2.  Once you are logged -in, cli ck 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 click on the "Registration" link . You will then see a pre -filled form with 
your name, delegation and email . 
 
3.3.  Click on " Submit " to complet e the process. By clicking "Submit" you confirm that you 
understand and accept the conditions . 
4  TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE  
4.1  BEFORE THE MEETING  
4.1.  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.  
4.2.  Device : Please do not use smartphones nor iPADs/tablets if you wish to take the floor during 
the meeting.  
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  4.3.  Browser : To connect to the meeting, please use e ither:  
 
4.4.  Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge will not work.  
4.5.  Location : Please stay in a fixed location.  
4.6.  Headset : a plug -in is the preferred option. Avoid Bluetooth devices if you wish to take the 
floor. 
4.2  JOINING THE MEETING  
4.7.  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 WTO E -Registration platform.1 
4.8.  Once you are logged -in, click on TRADE TOPICS in the top row and the n 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 click on the link to access the 24 July meeting. The link will be activated 
one week before the meeting.  
4.9.  Click on the link " Access the meeting in Interprefy " (see an example below) and insert 
again your WTO credentials (the same email and pass word as before). You will then be taken directly 
to the virtual meeting on the Interprefy platform.  
 
 
 
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.  
 
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  4.10.   Allow  the system to access the microphone and camera . 
 
 
4.11.   Simultaneous interpretation in all three official languages will be provided. Choose your 
prefer red language (Please note: "None " means listening to the floor, without interpretation). If 
you do not hear sound on the "None" channel, try switching to one of the language specific channels.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.3  DURING THE MEETING  
4.12.   To request the floor, press the "Raise Hand" button. The Chairman and Secretariat will be 
able to see delegates requesting the floor.  
                   
 
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  4.13.   When the Chairman gives you the floor, you will see the following message. Please select 
VIDEO . 
 
 
4.14.   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.  
4.15.   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.  
 
 
4.4  AFTER THE MEETING  
IMPORTANT : Click the "log out" button (top right) after every Interprefy session 
otherwise you will continue t o remain in that session and therefore unable to access the next one.  
 
 
 
 
4.5  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 ta ke the floor, at a moderate pace . 
 
 
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IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT ANY POINT, PLEASE CALL +41 22 739 68 24 
OR EMAIL vcsupport@wto.org  
 
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