INF/MSME/CN/20  
 
3 March  2023 
(23-1470) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated  3 March  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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The Informal Working Group on MSMEs will hold its next regular meeting in hybrid  mode  in room S1 
and through the Interprefy platform on Monday  20 March  2023, starting at 10 a.m . 
 
A technical guide summarizing logistical details for participation in Interpr efy meetings will be made 
available on the Members' interactive calendar of meetings, and can also be found at: 
WTO Interprefy Delegate Guide . 
 
The following items are proposed for the agenda:  
 
MORNING  
1  ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT (INF/MSME/W/41)  
1.1.  Members of the Group will be asked to adopt the draft Annual Report circulated on 
16 November  2022 in document INF/MSME/W/41.  
2  2023 PROGRAM OF WORK  
2.1.  A program of work articulated around the following four pillars is proposed for Group members ' 
consideration:  
a. Promoting MSMEs' access to information   
Work under this pillar will focus on the further development of the Trade4MSMEs platform 
and support to the  Global Trade Helpdesk.  
b. Building capacity to promote MSMEs' greater inclusion in internation al trade  
Work under this  pillar will aim at developing materials, such as handbooks and 
compendiums  of good practices , to help MSMEs participate in international trade and to 
build policymakers' capacity to support their MSMEs.   
Ideas mentioned at previous meetings include: (i) compiling the Trade4MSMEs guides into 
two Handbook s, one  for policymakers and one for MSMEs, and (ii) developing a 
compendium on how members' AEO programs take into account MSMEs. A dedicated 
session could be planned in July during which members would present their experience.  
Members will be invited to share ideas on other topics that could be the subject of 
compendiums of good practices.  INF/MSME/CN/20  
 
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  c. Thematic discussions  
Under this pillar, the Group will continue exp loring issues of particular interest to MSMEs 
with a view to developing a new package  of recommendations  and guidelines.  
Members will be invited to indicate topics they would like to focus on.  
d. Implementation of  the December 202 0 MSME Package  
e. Members are encouraged  to actively implement the December 2020 MSME Package. 
Memb ers will be invited to report on progress achieved at each MSME meeting.  
2.2.  Update on the Trade4MSMEs platform and plan for 2023 (update by the Coordinator) . 
2.3.  Update on the Global Trade Help desk and plan for 2023 ( Ms Anna Jankowska -Eriksson, ITC). 
2.4.  Update on the RTA database and call for papers:  
a. The Secretariat will present the revamped RTA database.  
b. Following suggestions by members to look at the impact of RTAs on MSMEs and the 
discussions  on issuing  a Call for papers to collect evidence, the Secretariat prepared a 
draft Call for papers circulated in document INF/MSME/W/42 . Members will be invited to 
approve the Call for papers.  
2.5.  Briefing by Group members on actions taken to implement the various annexes of 
the 2020 MSME  Package (INF/MSME/4/Rev.2). Members may wish to use the overview list 
presented to the Group in July 2021 (INF/MSME/ W/35  and Corrigen dum 1 ) as a guide . 
3  PRESENTATION ON G20 WORK RELATED TO MSMES AND E -COMMERCE (ITC)  
3.1.  Presentation by the ITC on G20 work related to MSMEs and e -commerce ( Mr Rajesh Aggarwal , 
ITC). 
AFTERNOON  
4  2022 WINNERS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPIONS  INITIATIVE  
4.1.  The two winne rs of the 2022 edition of the Small Business Champion s Initiative, 
Mr Youssouf ou Daouda, Professional Association "Accompagnements Valeurs Expertises Conseils" 
(A.V.E.C) (Benin)  and Mr Kelvin Ogodo , the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and 
Agriculture  (TCCIA) (Tanzania)  will brief the Group on the implementation of their project s. 
5  THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS  
5.1.  Presentation of the 2022 SMECO report  Connected Services, Competitive Businesses  
(Ms Valentina Rollo , ITC). 
5.2.  Presentation by the ICC on their joint report The Climate Impact of SMEs, Evidence from the 
UK and South Africa  (Mr Charly Gordon , ICC). 
6  OTHER BUSINESS  
6.1.  MSME Group Coordinat ion: Ambassador José Luís Cancela  Gómez  will leave Geneva in the 
second half of 2023. Members interested in coordinating the activities of the Group will be invited to 
make their position known at the meeting.  
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