INF/IFD/W/26  
 
2 October 2020  
(20-6727) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
NEGOTIATI NG MEETING OF 8-9 OCTO BER 2020  
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
Following the decision taken by participating Members to move into negotiating mode,1 and as 
indicated in the 'Schedule of Meetings for the period September -December 2020' endorsed by 
participating Members at the open -ended virtual meeting held on 24 July,2 the purpose of this 
meeting is to continue the negotiations on a multilateral fram ework on investment facilitation for 
development.   
In keeping with the open, transparent and inclusive nature of this initiative, all WTO Members are 
invited to participate in the meeting.  
1  BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF ANY NEW TEXT PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS  SINCE 
THE LAST MEETING  
1.1.  In case new text proposals are submitted prior to the meeting , the Member(s) concerned  will 
be invited to briefly introduce  the submission(s). Thereafter, the floor will be opened for general 
questions and comments on such text proposals .  Delegations will have the opportunity to pose their 
questions or make comments on the specifics of the text proposals when the relevant 
Section (s)/issue (s) will be addressed  during the negotiations.  
2  NEGOTIATIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
2.1.   Members will continue their discussion on the basis of the  latest version of the informal 
consolidated text3 alongside any other available text proposals by Members not yet incorporated 
into the consolidated text, taking into account the need for consistency throughout the text and the 
interlinkages among provisions in different sections.  
2.2.  As the aim is to advance , as much as possible , on the drafting of specific provisions of the 
future investment facilitation framework, Members are encouraged to focus on concrete drafting 
formulations.  
2.3.  The discussion will resume where it was adjourned at the last meeting, namely,  as of paragraph 
3.5 of the informal consolidated text . The objective of this meeting is to continue with the discussion 
of Section II on 'Transparency of Investment Measures' and thereafter, discuss Section III on 
'Streamlining and Speeding Up Admi nistrative Procedures and Requirements'.  
2.4.  The themes and elements in the consolidated text indicated below will be addressed at this 
meeting  in the following order:   
Section II: Transparency of investment measures    
• Publication and availability of measures  and information  (only paragraph s 3.5, 3.6, 3.10. 
3.11 of the informal consolidated text  and related proposals by Members ) 
 
1 See the summaries of the meetings contained in d ocument s INF/IFD/R/10 dated 17 Jan uary 2020; as 
well as  INF/IFD/R/ 15 dated 31 August 2020 ( notably sections 3 and 4 thereof ).  
2 Document INF/IFD/W/24/ Rev.3 of 18 September  2020.  
3 Document INF/IFD/RD/50/Rev.3 , forthcoming.  INF/IFD/W/26  
 
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  • Notification to the WTO (parag raph 4.1 and related proposals ) 
• Specific exceptions to transparency requirements  (paragraph 6.1  and related proposal s) 
2.5.  Please note that paragraphs 3.7 to 3. 9 of the informal consolidated text – under 
the sub-heading 'Information to be published when an authorization is required to invest in a 
country ' – and the related proposal, will be addressed during the discussion of Section III  
(Streamlining and Speeding up Administrative Procedures and Requirements ) since they are related 
to certain administrative procedures (investment authorization procedures) . 
2.6.  The provisions on Enquiry Points (paragraph 5.1 to 5.3) will be addressed together with 
element 18 (Contact  / Focal Point / Ombudsperson types of Mechanisms and National Investment 
Facilitator ) in a subsequent meeting .  
2.7.  In preparing for the discussion of the specific provisions in Section II , Members ar e invited to 
consider the following cross -cutting questions aimed at facilitating their focused discussions on the 
different provisions/elements, as appropriate:  
• What types of measures, information or procedures, depending on the provision at issue, 
should  be covered?  
• Who should be the beneficiar y (or beneficiaries)  of the different obligations?  
• Is the provision at issue linked or related to other provisions or elements of the informal 
consolidated text?  
• How could the framework address the use of electroni c means for compliance with 
provisions in this section in the most  beneficial and cost -effective way?  
Section III: Streamlining and Speeding up Administrative Procedures and Requirements  
2.8.  Before starting the discussion on Section III, some time will be devoted to an informal, 
conceptual discussion  on the specific scope of this section .  This discussion will be facilitated by  
guiding questions , which will be sent separately by the Coordinator  to all Members in advance of the 
meeting .  
2.9.  After th e informal conceptual discussion, all the provisions /elements  in Section III  – as well as 
paragraphs 3.7 to 3. 9 under the sub -heading ' Information to be published when an authorization is 
required to invest in a country ' of Section II - will be addressed in the following order:  
• Reasonable, objective and impartial administration of measures  (paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 
and related proposals ) 
• Reduction and simplification of administrative procedures and documentation 
requirements  (paragraphs 8.1 to 8.4 and related proposals ) 
• Elements 9  – Clear criteria for administrative procedures , 10 – Authorization procedures  
and 11  - Treatment of incomplete and rejection of applications  will be addressed taking 
into account the above -mentioned informal conceptual discuss ion 
• Fees and charges  (paragraph s 12.1 and 12.2 and related proposals ) 
• Information to be published when an authorization is required to invest in a  country  
(paragraphs 3.7 to 3. 9 of Section II  and related proposals ) 
• Periodic review of administrative procedu res and requirements  (paragraph s 13.1 and 13.2 
and related proposals ) 
• Use of ICT/e -government, including electronic applications (paragraphs 14.1 and 14.2 and 
related proposals ) 
• Independence of competent authorities  (paragraph 16.1 and related proposal s) 
• Appeal and review  (paragraphs 17.1 to 17.3 and related proposals ) 
• One-stop shop/single window -types of mechanisms / Single portal  (paragraphs 15.1 to 
15.3 and related proposals ) INF/IFD/W/26  
 
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2.10.   The remaining elements/ sections of the informal consolidated text w ill be addressed in 
subsequent meetings.  At the next meeting, Members will have the  opportunity to revert to issues 
discussed at this meeting.   
3  OTHER BUSINESS  
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