WT/MIN(17)/INF/29/Rev.1  
 
8 December 2017  
(17-6761) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017    
 
NOTE TO DELEGATIONS  
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS  FOR THE OPENING SESS ION 
Revision  
The Opening Session of the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Confer ence will be held on Sunday, 
10 December 2017 in the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre.  
 
The Conference will be opened at 4:00 p.m. by the Chair of the Eleventh Session of the Ministerial 
Conference, H.E. Ms. Susana Malcorra.  
 
The Opening Session will be divided into two pa rts.  
 
During the first part, the Chairman of the General Council will present to the Conference a report 
of the WTO activities in Geneva, and will refer to the reports of the General Council, the TNC and 
the Negotiating Groups and to proposals made. The M C11 Chairperson will then propose the 
adoption of the agenda for the Eleventh Session of the Ministerial Conference, circulated in 
document WT/MIN(17)/W/1, dated 2 November 2017.  
 
The second part of the Opening Session will be attended by the Presidents o f Argentina, Brazil, 
Paraguay, Uruguay and other dignitaries from countries in the region.  The President of the 
Argentine Republic and t he Director -General will address the Conference, and the Presidents will 
deliver statements and sign a Presidential Decl aration.  
 
Considering the presence of high -level dignitaries, Delegations should arrive at the Buenos 
Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre at least 60 minutes before the Opening Session — 
and preferably sooner . Delegations are kindly requested to be sea ted by 3:30 p.m. , at which 
point the doors of the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre will be closed for the arrival 
of the President. Please note that no access to the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre 
will be permitted once the door s are closed.  
 
1  TRANSPORT AND ACCESS  ARRANGEMENTS  
Delegations are advised that the meeting will begin on time. In this regard, delegations are 
strongly encouraged to allow adequate time for any traffic -related delays in Buenos Aires and 
security screening  at the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre in advance of the Opening 
Session.  
 
Ministers and Heads of Delegation are invited to use the VIP Entrance to access the Buenos 
Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre to attend the Opening Session. VIP cars will drop off 
Ministers / HoDs and those traveling in the sam e car at the drop -off point. Ministers and their 
entourages will need to pass through security at Entrance A.  Please note that no drop -off will be 
permitted within the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre compound after 2:30 p.m. 
These security arrangements will be in place only during the Opening Session.  
 
(See map below)  WT/MIN(17)/INF/29/Rev.1  
 
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2  PROTOCOL AND SECURIT Y 
Only M C11 attendees with an "Opening Session" badge will be allowed to attend the Opening 
Session. Badges for the Opening Session are distributed to the MC11 Delegation Coordinator when 
collecting the MC11 ID badges for the Delegation. Seating for delegations in  the Buenos Aires 
Exhibition and Convention Centre will be indicated by chair bands.  
 
Security officers may access the Opening Session, provided that they have the appropriate official 
Opening Session badge. However, under no circumstances may security of ficers carry firearms 
or weapons of any kind into the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention Centre where the Opening 
Session will take place, even when approval is granted to carry such firearms or other weapons in 
other areas of the Buenos Aires Exhibiti on and Convention Centre at other times during MC11. This 
regulation will be strictly enforced and is not negotiable.  
 
Additional security checks in different locations of the Buenos Aires Exhibition and Convention 
Centre may be conducted by the President ial Security team.  
 
3  DRESS CODE  
For the Opening Session, delegations are reminded that the dress code for MC11, including the 
Opening Session, is business formal attire or National Dress.  
 
4  PHOTOGRAPHY  
Delegations are kindly requested not to take photographs or to film the Opening Session.  
 
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