RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/301  
 
22 May 2013  
(13-2680)  Page: 1/3  
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration   
 
UTILIZATION OF THE MEMBERS' TR ANSITION OPERATING FUND   
 
 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  In conformance with the guidelines establishing the Members' Transition Operating Fund 
1(the Fund), this document presents:   
a. a financial situation of the Fund; and  
b. a request for approval of the Committee to fina nce additional costs on an existing project 
(Accreditation Facility) and to fund a new project (Completion of External Grounds within the Security Perimeter). 
1.2.  It is to be recalled that the Fund was established in December 2008 to provide funding for 
the specific expenditures of the building project, that is, costs pertaining to the installation and equipment of the renovated and constructed new faci lities with furniture and technical equipment.   
2  FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE FUND 
2.1.  The financial situation of the Fund as at 30 April 2013 is provided below:  Source of Funding        Amount in Swiss francs  
 2007 Surplus            8,051,716 
 2009 Surplus            1,036,988  2010 Surplus          10,527,319 
 Total Fund            19,616,023  
 
 Balance of the Fund as at 30 April 2013    
 Total Fund            19,616,023 
 Projects authorized          (18,609,445)
 Remaining balance of the Fund          1,006,578  
 
2.2.  The table below presents the current amount s authorized by the Committee for each project. 
The second column presents the current estima ted completion expenditure. The last columns 
present the balance between the amounts currently  approved and the estimated expenditure to 
complete each project. 
                                               
1 WT/BFA/W/178/Rev.1.   WT/BFA/W/301 
 
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Common Facilities Projects (in CHF)  Current 
Amounts 
Authorized by 
CBFA  Current 
Estimated 
Completion 
Expenditure  Balance  
South Courtyard Conference Centre  2,509,4452 2,509,445 0 
Common Area & ITTC Furniture 900,000 900,000 0 
Archive Rooms 900,000 900,000 0 
Signage  200,000 100,000 100,000 
Catering Facilities in CWR 400,000 400,000 0 
Renovation & Equipping of North Wing Conference 
Rooms 6,200,000 5,800,000 400,000 
Data Centre  700,000 600,000 100,000 
Catering Facilities in New Building 1,700,000 1,550,000 150,000 
New Building Furniture & Furnishings  2,200,000 2,200,000 0 
Security Facilities  800,000 650,000 150,000 
Accreditation Facility (BCI) 2,100,000 2,300,000 (200,000) 
Completion of External Grounds  700,000 (700,000) 
Total  18,609,445 18,609,445 0 
 
3  PROJECTS WHERE FUNDING IS REQUIRED   
3.1  Accreditation Facility (BCI)   
3.1.  The building work on the Accreditation Faci lity started in March 2013. This welcome pavilion 
is located at the main entrance of the CWR campus . The work is be completed by the end of June 
2013.   
3.2.   The Secretariat is requesting additional funding for an amount of CHF 200,000 in order to 
complete this building. This would raise the total authorized amount to CHF 2,300,000. The 
Secretariat faced additional expenditure on this project that was not foreseen at the planning stage. It included elements such as:   
 Sewage piping had to be installed. Old plans of that area erroneously indicated that they 
existed.  
 Additional building works were induced due to  the coordination between this project and 
the security perimeter project that are taking place on the same side at the same type. 
It included additional underground/preparatory works and the construction of a pedestrian ramp to facilitate the access for delegates to the site.  
 The roof had to be changed to add lighting and adjust the coating. 
 Adjustments in the internal design of the building had to be made in order to enhance its 
ergonomic for its users. The welcome desk, the ceiling, the lighting and some internal walls had to be adjusted. 
 The heating/air conditioning system has been modified in order to meet higher comfort 
standards for delegates, visitors and staff. 
 The main entrance door and the glass walls have been modified in order to comply with 
low energy consumption "Minergie" standards. 
3.2  Completion of External Gr ounds within Security Perimeter 
3.3.  The Swiss Authorities are financing for an estimated amount of CHF 12 million the 
construction of the security perimeter around the WTO campus. This project is managed by FIPOI 
                                               
2 Additional financing of the South Courtyard Conference Centre from the 2010 budgetary savings in the 
amount of CHF 1,990,555 - WT/BFA/W/261. WT/BFA/W/301 
 
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  (Fondation des Immeubles pour les Organisations Internationales). FIPOI selected the architect 
firm Behnisch, and Oxalis as the landscaping company. The work is to be fully completed by the autumn 2013.The Swiss Authorities are not prov iding any financing for the extensive works 
needed to improve and landscape the 10,000 M2 of  WTO grounds within the security perimeter. 
The Secretariat is therefore seeking CHF 700,000 in  total funding for all external improvements 
and landscaping costs. This includes:  
 CHF450,000 for the works to take place along the rue de Lausanne, between the 
Accreditation Facility and the new administrative building, and in the area surrounding 
the Villa Rappard, the prefabricated building and the Villa Montessori, which involves the 
levelling of the grounds, installation of a driveway, creation of a lighted footpath between the main entrance gate and the new building; the maintenance of the existing 
trees and the planting of new trees in replacement of those to be cut down, and the 
creation of parking slots; and  
 CHF 250,000 for the works to be completed on the lakeside; which includes installation 
of a large stone terrace, re-building the historical fountain previously located in 
courtyard and creating an area just outside the Salle de Pas Perdus suitable for outdoor receptions or other events..  
3.4.  The total amount requested of CHF 700,000 would include: 
 Preparatory and ground works 
 Water and electrical system connection to the CWR building 
 Pathways /Terrace with stone and grass landscaping 
 Garden borders 
 Three mineral basins wherein the former inner courtyard statue will be installed in the 
middle basin 
 Restoration of the ceramic patterns 
 Lighting fixtures for the path between the Accreditation Facility and the New 
Administrative Building 
 Landscaping fees of Oxalis 
4  RECOMMENDATION  4.1.  The Secretariat therefore proposes that the Committee adopts the following decision in order 
to allow the Secretariat to move forward and to complete the above-mentioned projects: The 
Committee agrees that the following projec t s  m a y  b e  f u n d e d  f r o m  t h e  M e m b e r s '  
Transition Operating fund for a total amount of CHF 900,000:   
 The additional works of the Accreditatio n Facility for an amount of up to CHF 
200,000; and  
 The completion of external grounds wi thin the security perimeter for an 
amount of up to CHF 700,000  
4.2.  The current WTO administration does not envisage further funding requests and expects that 
savings will increase the balance available of the Fund. 
 
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