RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/140  
 
4 November  2013 
(13-6052) Page: 1/1 
   
 
 ANNUAL REPORT FOR 20 13 OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET,  
FINANCE AND ADMINIST RATION  
1.1.  In accordance with the procedures for an annual overview of World Trade Organization 
(WTO) activities and for reporting under the WTO, adopted by the General Council on 
15 Novemb er 1995 (WT/GC/M/8, item 11), a report on the activities of the Committee on Budget, 
Finance and Administration in 201 3 is hereby submitted.  
1.2.  The Committee held seven meetings and presented four reports1 to the General Council in 
2013. The Committee obtain ed and reviewed on a quarterly basis reports on the financial and 
budgetary situation of the Organization, the arrears of contributions from Members and Observers, 
the management of human resources, the WTO Pension Plan and the building project. Special 
attention was given to reforms in the area of human resources and the application of the salary 
indexation methodology. The Committee carefully reviewed and took note of the annual report on 
diversity in the WTO Secretariat and the annual report of the Offic e of Internal Audit.   
1.3.  The Director -General and the External Auditor presented to the Committee the WTO 2012 
Financial Performance Report and the 2012 External Auditor Report, respectively. The Committee 
examined those reports and proposed to the General C ouncil the approval of the 2012 audited 
accounts.  
1.4.  The Committee reviewed and recommended to the General Council to approve pro -rata 
contributions for two new acceding Members: the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Tajikistan.  
1.5.  On the Building Project, t he Committee examined and approved two projects to be funded 
from the Members' Transition Operating Fund for a total amount of CHF 900,000. The Committee 
also reviewed and recommend ed to the General Council to approve the revision of the 
Infrastructure Con tract that define s the relation ship between the Swiss Authorities and the WTO 
related to the real estate occupied by the Secretariat.  
1.6.  The Committee held a special informal meeting to review the issue of the rise in dispute 
settlement activity and its impac t on the resources of the Secretariat.  
1.7.  As the six-year mandate of the current External Auditor is expiring with the  audit of  the 2013 
accounts, the Committee launched a tendering process  to identify a new External Auditor. The 
Committee established a Work ing Group to review the offers received. The Committee 
recommended to the General Council the appointment of the German Bundesrechnungshof  as 
External Auditor of the accounts of the WTO Secretariat and the WTO Pension Plan effective as 
from the audit of th e accounts for 2014 and for a period of six years .  
1.8.  Finally, the Committee examined  and proposed to the General Council to approve  the 201 4-
2015 Biennium  budget proposals  for the WTO  and t he ITC ; also the 2014-2015 Biennial Technical 
Assistance and Trainin g Plan .  
 
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1 Reports: WT/BFA/ 136 covering the meeting held on 25 March  2013; WT/BFA/ 137 covering the 
meeting held on 27 May 201 3, WT/BFA/13 8 covering the meeting held on 3 July 201 3; WT/BFA/13 9 covering 
the meeting s held on 10, 18, 25 October  2013 and 1 November 201 3.