INF/MSME/R/20  
 
13 November 2020  
(20-8131) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
OPEN -ENDED MEETING OF 5 NOVEMBER 2020  
Summary of discussions  
The following communication, dated 12 November 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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The Informal Working Group (IWG) on MSMEs met on 5 November 2020 to finalize the technical 
work on its package of six recommendations and declarations aimed at facilitating the participation 
of MSMEs in international trade. On 3 N ovember, Panama had informed the Coordinator that it had 
decided to withdraw from the Group, bringing the number of members to 90.  
 
A total of 69 delegations1 attended the virtual meeting, including 7 non -working group members 
(Chad; Egypt; Malawi; Maurit ius; Mozambique; Niger; and the United States). 
Ambassador  José Luis Cancela Gómez of Uruguay, Coordinator of the MSME Informal Working Group 
chaired the meeting and, as in the past, the Secretariat was invited to sit at the podium.  
 
1  SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS  
1.1.  Two delegations (Costa -Rica and Pakistan) noted that they were still consulting on the package 
but did not want to delay work. Malaysia reserved its right on the texts on trade facilitation 
(INF/MSME/14/Rev.6) and the IDB (INF/MSME/23/Rev.1). T he Coordinator recalled that the purpose 
of the meeting was simply to close the technical work. The texts would be officially endorsed at the 
next Group meeting.  
1.2.  The Group took note that technical work on the six recommendations and declarations aimed 
at facilitating the participation of MSMEs in international trade was finalized. The Group intends to 
officially endorse the package at its next open -ended meeting on 11 December.  
1.3.  The Coordinator invited members of the Group to actively reach out to non -member s in the 
coming weeks to help build support for the package. Members were invited to let the coordination 
know which delegations they intend to approach.  
1.4.  Members were reminded to vote for the proposed names of the online platform linking to 
information for  MSMEs and policymakers that is scheduled for development in early 2021.  
 
1 Afghanistan; Argentina; Bahrain, Kingdom of; Belgium; Brazil ; Bulgaria ; Canada ; Chad; Chile; China ; 
Colombia ; Costa Rica ; Côte d'Ivoire ; Croatia ; Czech Republic ; Dominican Republic ; Ecuador ; Egypt ; 
El Salvador ; European Union; Finland; France; Germany; Gu atemala; Guyana ; Honduras ; Hong Kong, China ; 
Hungary ; Iceland ; Ireland ; Israel ; Italy; Japan ; Korea , Republic of; Latvia ; Liechtenstein ; Lithuania ; Malawi ; 
Malaysia ; Malta ; Mauritius ; Mexico ; Mozambique ; Myanmar ; Netherlands ; New Zealand ; Nicaragua ; Niger ; 
Norway ; Pakistan ; Paraguay ; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Turkey; 
United  Kingdom; United States  of Ame rica; Uruguay; Viet Nam (non -MSME IWG members are in italics ). INF/MSME/R/20  
 
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  2  NEXT STEPS  
2.1.  The Group will now reach out to non -members to try and build support for the package before 
officially endorsing it on 11 December and presenting to the whole membership at  the 14 December 
HODs meeting.  
2.2.  A virtual meeting will be organized on 15 December to present the package to the private 
sector, to be followed by a press conference.  
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