INF/MSME/CN/9  
 
21 April 2021  
(21-3431) Page: 1/6 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 21 April  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 virtual mode through 
the Interprefy platform on Tuesday 4 May  2021, starting at 10:00 a.m.  
 
The annex lays out relevant organisational and technical arrangements.  
 
The following item s are proposed for the agenda:  
 
MORNING – 10:00 am -1:00 pm  
 
1  LOW -VALUE SHIPMENTS AND GST, PRESENTATION BY AUSTRALIA  
1.1.  This presentation is a follow -up to the presentation made by the Global Express Alliance at  the 
18 February  MSME  meeting.  
2  PRESENTATION BY TECH UK  
2.1.  Tech UK, an industry association representing UK businesses on digital/cyber matters, will 
present on cybersecurity from a business perspective.  
3  INNOVATION POLICIES AND MSMES, PROPOSAL  FROM ECUADOR  
3.1.  Ecuador will present on the need f or effective innovation policies and policy instruments to 
support MSMEs, followed by presentations on innovation policies by UNCTAD, WIPO and the WTO 
Secretariat. A factual background note was circulated as INF/MSME/W/31 . 
4  RURAL MSMES, PROPOSAL FROM  BRAZIL  
5  UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADE4MSMES WEB PLATFORM  
5.1.  Update by Mexico . 
AFTERNOON – 3:00 pm -6:00 pm  
 
6  CROSS -BORDER PAYMENTS AND MSMES  
6.1.  Presentation by DLocal, a Uruguay payment platform specializing in local payment solutions 
for emerging markets.  INF/MSME/CN/9  
 
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  7  PRESE NTATION BY THE IFC  ON SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE  
8  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MSME PACKAGE  
8.1.  Update on the development by the Secretariat MSME team of a database of MSME -related 
information collected or provided by Members during their TPR process.  
8.2.  Briefing by Côte d' Ivoire on the status of their proposal in the Working Group on Trade, Debt 
and Finance (WT/WGTDF/W/98).  
8.3.  Other . 
9  ROAD TO MC12  
9.1.  Planning of activities, including work on the ministerial declaration.  
10  OTHER BUSINESS  
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  INF/MSME/CN/9  
 
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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 virtually via the Interprefy platform. Both modes of participation  will enjoy 
the same participation privileges. Simultaneous interpretation in the three WTO official languages 
will be provided.  
• In view of technical constraints, it is strongly recommended that virtual attendance be limited 
to a maximum of 3 persons per d elegation . 
• 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 expe riencing 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 approp riate 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, either to send their 
statement for it to be read out during the meeting, or t o 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 meeting.  
2  TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE  
2.1.  Delegations are kindly req uested 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.  
2.7.  Headset : a plug -in is the preferred option. Avoid Bluetooth devices if you wish to take the 
floor. 
INF/MSME/CN/9  
 
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  2.2  JOINING THE MEETING  
2.8.  Login to the WTO website with your WTO credentials  by clicking o n 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 are 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 4 May 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 vir tual 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 delega tion. 
INF/MSME/CN/9  
 
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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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