INF/MSME/W/30  
 
1 February 2021  
(21-0855) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
TRADE4MSMES  
Update  
The following document, dated 1 February 2021, is being circulated at the request of the Coordinator 
of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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1  OVERVIEW  
1.1.  Trade4MSMEs, the web site of verified and directly accessible trade information for MSMEs and 
policymakers is now taking shape. Skotkonung, a UK -based IT solutions company with experience 
developing similar online information hubs for the UK Foreign, Commo nwealth and Development 
Office (FCDO), was selected as the web site's developer and has met weekly with the Trade4MSMEs 
Task Force since late December 2020. This followed extended discussions with the UK Trade and 
Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2+) which has  committed to financially supporting Trade4MSME's 
development through 2021, as well as maintenance of the web site through 2030. This funding is 
part of the WTO Umbrella Grant Project on New Issues to support developing and least -developed 
economy trade. T rade4MSMEs will be one of the main deliverables of this project helping MSMEs 
from around the world to understand the opportunities available in engaging in international trade, 
along with the tools, databases, and other resources available to them.  
2  STRUCT URE 
2.1.  Trade4MSMEs will have two separate, easily searchable sections intended for the MSME and 
policymaker user groups. The MSME section will winnow and categorize already available online 
trade information, sorting it into various sections related to the st eps for conducting international 
trade and providing access to practical tools for would -be traders. The policymaker section will 
aggregate MSME and trade studies into a single online location as well as provide examples of trade 
policy best practices. To increase accessibility, the web site will be translated into all three official 
languages of the WTO and developed to be mobile -friendly.  
3  TIMELINE  
3.1.  The development proposal from Skotkonung for Trade4MSMEs is divided into four project 
phases – Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live. Intended to cover the first two months of the project, the 
discovery phase was shortened given the extensive user research and information gathering already 
done by the Trade4MSMEs Task Force and the Secretariat. The Alpha phase, or the prototyping 
phase, will see the creation of mock -up screens and prototyping for initial testing. With the 
assistance of the Trade4MSMEs Task Force, this phase will include the selection of a color palette 
and logo as well as initial visualiza tions. Following the Alpha phase, the Beta phase will deliver the 
core Trade4MSMEs web platform and comprise the final two months of the project. It is at this point 
that internal testing will be performed, after which the Beta site will be released to the  public to 
actively seek user feedback. Additional modifications will be made based on user behavior, after 
which the site will be released and be "live."  INF/MSME/W/30  
 
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  3.2.  A soft launch of the public beta web site, with associated promotion and communication 
activities is scheduled for delivery by the end of June 2021 (MSME Day). This will provide an 
opportunity to make further changes based on user activity before a final version is released at 
MC12. Work has already begun on the initial phase of the project to understand the web site's 
intended users and its functional requirements. Key areas noted for development by Skotkonung 
include outlining how dedicated sections for MSMEs and policymakers will be presented; creating a 
site searchable by date, topic and type of materi al; developing functional "upcoming events" and 
"recent developments" tools; and develop mechanisms for users to submit feedback.  
4  TASK FORCE  
4.1.  As mentioned at recent MSME Group meetings, all interested Members are invited to join the 
Trade4MSMEs Task Force t o advise on the web page's development including design and testing, as 
well as to participate in its future content and maintenance.  
 
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