INF/MSME/R/2  
 
25 March 2019  
(19-1826) Page: 1/2 
 Original: English  
 
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GRO UP ON MSME s 
SECOND OPEN -ENDED TH EMATIC SESSION  
IMPROVING ACCESS TO INFORMATIO N FOR MSME s: TAKEAWAYS AND NEXT S TEPS* 
The following communication, dated 26 June 2018 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Switzerland, as co -coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs  and organizer 
of this session , and the delegation of Uruguay, as general coordinator of the Informal Working Group 
on MSMEs.  
 
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Reflecting on the Informal Group of MSMEs thematic session held at the WTO on 22 May 2018, we, 
the co -coordinator and general coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs, took note of 
the following key messages from speakers and participants.  
 
This meeting was a follow -up to the thematic op en-ended session on Access to Information that was 
held on 27 March 2018 (see JOB/GC/183/Rev.1) . 
 
1  REMARKS BY SPEAKERS  
1.1.  Mr Mimouni from the ITC gave an update on the  Global Trade Helpdesk ( GTH) project.  He noted 
that a  trust fund to support implementation of the GTH has been established  and fundraising for 
further development i s ongoing. The ITC is also working with a designer to make the GTH more 
user-friendly. Data collection  is underway and t he ITC is also now developing  a capac ity building 
program . On the language dimension , he explained that the website would be translated into the 
6 UN languages  within the next  three years.  As having the information available in n ational 
language s is important , the ITC would need to work very closely with national governments  for 
translation and input . Concerning focal points, he noted that there are a lready many at the national 
level. However, t here is a need for improved synergy.  
1.2.  Mr Loridan of ITC made a presentation on the ePing SPS/TBT notification alert system.    
2  DISCUSSION  
Following the presentations, the floor was opened to participants to comment and react. Members 
discussed concrete actions they could take, including :  
 
a. Country Survey s 
i. The id ea of a survey to map information sources was discussed. The Chair invited the 
ITC to prepare the necessary material. The survey would then be sent to Members to 
complete. Members who are not part of the informal working group on MSMEs but who 
are also int erested in this issue are invited to signal their interest to the group 
coordinators or the ITC.  
b. National Contact Points  
i. Members generally supported the need for national contact points to allow the 
managers of the GTH to more easily interact with the nati onal authorities that retain 
                                                
* This document was originally circulated as JOB/GC/191 dated 3 July 2018 . INF/MSME/R/2  
 
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  relevant information. Various approaches were discussed ranging from leveraging 
already existing contact points, such as those established under the TFA, to 
establishing new structures. The idea of national contact points that could answer 
MSMEs ' queries was also raised.  
ii. It was felt that further discussion was required on this issue. A  follow -up meeting 
would be organized in the coming months to  further discuss the question of the 
national contact points.  
c. How to further improve access to information  with the WTO framework  
i. The work done in the TBT and SPS committees to enhance transparency was flagged. 
It was suggested that the Group should continue to explore ways to further improve 
access to information , including t hrough the work of relevant WTO bodies . 
3  NEXT STEPS  
a. The ITC w ill develop a draft survey to map information sources for the GTH. The survey 
would then be sent to the Group for Memb ers to complete.  
b. A follow -up meeting will be organized in the coming months to  further discuss the question 
of the national contact points.  The Chair invited Members to reflect on  best practices  and 
experiences . 
c. The Chair also invited Members to reflect on  other initiatives that the Group could take to 
improve access to info rmation  for MSMEs.  
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