INF/MSME/CN/11  
 
13 July 2021  
(21-5552) Page: 1/6 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 13 July  2021, 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 hybrid  mode  in room D 
(sitting capacity: 70 people maximum) and  through the Interprefy pl atform on Monday 26 July  2021, 
starting at 10:00 a.m.  
 
The annex lays out relevant organisational and technical arrangements.  
 
The following items are proposed for the agenda:  
 
 
1  MC12 PREPARATION  
1.1.  Review of the Draft Ministerial Declaration (INF/MSME/W/33/Rev.2). Please note that a note 
on the proposed Trade4MSME Hub referred to in paragraph 2 of the Ministerial Declaration was 
circulated in document INF/MSME/W/34.  
1.2.  Planning of activities between S eptember and November, in particular outreach.  
2  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MSME PACKAGE  
2.1.  Update by MSME Group members on initiatives in other WTO bodies to implement the 
December 2020 MSME package.  
2.2.  Review of the revised format of the MSME Package implementation ove rview list (circulated by 
the Coordinator by email on 13 July 2021).  
3  BRIEFINGS ON MSME -RELATED DISCUSSIONS IN OTHER WTO BODIES  
3.1.  Briefing by the EIF Secretariat on the "ASYCUDA -CDS Communication Platform Project"  carried 
out in partnership with UNCTAD and th e Universal Postal Union on better integration of postal 
services with customs in Vanuatu.  
3.2.  Briefing by the WTO Secretariat on SPS/TBT notification alert system ePing and related capacity 
building activities.  
These points are for transparency and informatio n purposes only.  
4  BRIEFINGS ON MSMES, IP AND INNOVATION (AT 3PM)  
4.1.  Briefing by WIPO DG on WIPO's work on MSMEs.  INF/MSME/CN/11  
 
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  4.2.  Briefing by the WTO Secretariat on discussions on MSMEs, IP and innovation in the context of 
the TRIPS Council.  
5  INNOVATION POLICIES AND RURAL MSMES  
5.1.  Presentation by Ecuador in the context of their proposal on innovation policy.  
6  OTHER BUSINESS  
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  ANNEX  
This annex lays out relevant organizational and technical arrangements.  
 
1  ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS  
1.1.  Delegates can choose to attend the meeting in person.  Please note  that meeting room 
capacities are cut in half and e very other seat must be kept vacant . Room D has a maximum 
capacity of 70 persons . Seats will be available on a first come, first served basis. Participants 
must wear their  masks, except when they are addressing the meeting. Meeting rooms will be 
disinfected to the extent possible. Disinfecting wipes will be available in all rooms and participants 
are encouraged to disinfect their seats and tables.  
1.2.  Both Geneva -based and capi tal-based officials of WTO Members and Observers are welcome 
to attend the meeting virtually via the Interprefy platform. Both modes of participation will enjoy 
the same participation privileges. Simultaneous interpretation in the three WTO official langua ges 
will be provided.  
• In view of technical constraints, it is strongly 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 (please see 
the technical arrangements laid out further below).  
• 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 junct ure 
before the meeting closes. Should the technical problem persist, delegations may contact the 
Secretariat ( carole.boureux @wto.org) during the course  of the meeting, either 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 membe rs after the meeting.  
2  TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE  
2.1.  Delegations are kindly requested to review and take note of the technical arrangements for 
virtual attendance as set out further below.  
2.1  BEFORE THE MEETING  
2.2.  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.  
2.3.  Device : Please do not use smartphones nor iPADs/tablets if you wish to take the floor during 
the meeting.  
2.4.  Browser : To connect to the meeting, please use either:  
 
 
2.5.  Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge will not work.  
2.6.  Location : Please stay in a fixed location.  
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  2.7.  Headset : a plug -in is the preferred option. Avoid Bluetooth devices if you wish to take the 
floor. 
2.2  JOINING THE MEETING  
2.8.  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 
2.9.  Once you ar e logged -in, click 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 especially to the 26 July  meeting . 
2.10.  Click on the link " Access the meeting in Interprefy " (see an example below) and insert 
again your WTO credentials (the same email and password as before). You will then be taken directly 
to the virtual meeting on the Interprefy platform.  
 
 
2.11.  Allow the system to access the microphone and camera.  
 
 
2.12.  Simultaneous interpretation in all three official languages will be provided. Choose your 
preferred 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.  
 
 
 
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  need to  register you 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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2.3  DURING THE MEETING  
2.13.  To request the floor, press the "Raise Hand" button. The Chairman and Secretariat will be 
able to see delegates requesting the floor.  
   
 
2.14.  When the Chairman gives you the floor, you will see the following message. Please select 
VIDEO.  
 
 
2.15.  Please allow a few seconds of streaming before starting your intervention, to ensure your 
statement is heard in full. Remember to speak at a moderate pace  to facilitate simultaneous 
interpretation.  
2.16.  Once you have c ompleted your intervention, click on the Disconnect button. This will not 
disconnect you from the meeting  – it will only stop transmitting your voice and image.  
 
 
2.4  AFTER THE MEETING  
IMPORTANT: Click the "log out" button (top right) after every Interprefy session otherwise 
you will continue to remain in that session and therefore unable to access the next one.  
 
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  2.5  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 take the floor, at a moderate pace . 
 
 
 
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT ANY POINT, PLEASE CALL +41 22 739 68 24 OR EMAIL 
vcsupport@wto.org  
 
 
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