RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/145  
 
28 November 2014  
(14-6951)  Page: 1/2  
   
 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2014 OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, 
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 
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 November 1995 (WT/GC/M/8, item 11), a report on the activities of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration in 2014 is hereby submitted.  
1.2.  The Committee held six meetings and presented five reports
1 to the General Council in 2014. 
The Committee obtained and reviewed on a quarterly basis reports on the financial and budgetary situation of the Organization, the arrears of co ntributions from Members and Observers, the WTO 
Pension Plan, the WTO Risk Management and the financial situation of the fund related to the 
Building project. The Committee reviewed and took note of the annual report on diversity in the 
WTO Secretariat; the Human Resources annual report on grading structure and promotions; and the annual report of the Office of Internal Audit.  
1.3.  The Director-General and the External Au ditor presented to the Committee the WTO Financial 
Performance Report and the External Auditor Report for 2013, respectively. The Committee examined these reports and proposed to the General Council the approval of the 2013 audited 
accounts. 
1.4.  The Committee reviewed and recommended to the General Council to approve pro-rata 
contributions for the accession of Yemen in June 2014, as the WTO 160
th Member. 
1.5.  The Director-General launched within th e WTO an Organizational Review process. The 
Secretariat regularly informed Members about the on-going work of the Secretariat during that 
process. The Director-General addressed an interim report to the Committee at the CBFA meeting in September. A final report will be presented to the Committee early 2015. 
1.6.  The Committee established two working groups. One to review the WTO after service health 
insurance (ASHI). The other to review the WTO Financial Regulations. The Committee approved the extension of the mandate of the Working Group on ASHI of six months to continue its work. 
1.7.  The Committee held three informal meetings  to review the on-going work of the Working 
Group on ASHI and on the WTO Financial Regulati ons, as well as the on-going work on the 
Organizational review.  
1.8.  On the Building Project, the Security Perimeter was completed in May 2014. The Secretariat 
suggested the establishment of a long-term building maintenance fund. The Committee will review 
this proposal in 2015.  
1.9.  The Committee examined the report related to the 2014-2015 Biennium Mid-Term Review for 
the World Trade Organization and for the International Trade Center. No changes were proposed 
on the 2015 budget already approved by the Ge neral Council at the end of 2013. The Committee 
recommended that the General Council approve the scale of contributions for 2015. 
                                               
1 Reports: WT/BFA/141 covering the meeting held on 14 February 2014; WT/BFA/142 covering the 
meeting held on 11 April 2014, WT/BFA/143 covering the meeting held on 2 July 2014; WT/BFA/144 covering 
the meeting held on 17 September 2014; WT/BFA/145 covering the meetings held on 7 and 21 November 2014. WT/BFA/145 
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.10.  Finally, the Committee examined the possibility of establishing an Audit Committee at the 
suggestion of the WTO Internal Auditor. The Co mmittee engaged constructive discussions on this 
question at its last meeting of the year 2014 and will continue its discussion early next year. 
 
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