WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
6 November 2009 
 
 (09-5560) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009  
 
  
CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION NOTE 
 
 
 This consolidated note aims to provide delega tions with an overview of the arrangements for 
the Seventh Session of the Ministerial Conference in or der to facilitate their preparations.  It brings 
together information previously circulated together with points covered at the October 
General Council and other relevant information.  Details of access and security arrangements will be 
the subject of a further note. 
 
I. VENUE 
 The Conference will take place at: 
 
Centre International de Conferences Genève (CICG) 17 rue de Varembé 
1211 Geneva 
Switzerland Internet:  http://www.cicg.ch
 
  The Conference will be subject to significant lim itations in terms of space, both within the 
meeting rooms and the open areas in the CICG.  Delegations are therefore kindly requested to 
exercise restraint in the number of delegates they register.  (a) Opening Hours 
 The CICG opening hours during the Ministerial Conference are as follows: 
  
 Monday 30 November - 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. 
 Tuesday 1 December - 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.  Wednesday 2 December -  7 a.m. - 9 p.m.     Please note that due to technical preparations for the Conference, the CICG and the Centre 
William Rappard (CWR) will be closed on Saturday 28 November.  The CICG will not be open for 
meetings on Sunday 29 November.  However, faciliti es at the CWR are expected to be available to 
delegations on 29 November, as well as during the Conference.  (b) Access and Parking 
 Delegations are encouraged to allow adequate time for traffic-related delays and security 
screening at the CICG in advance of the scheduled meetings.  As there is no parking at the CICG, a drop-off zone for delegates is envisaged in close proximity to the security screening operation.  One 
parking space for each Head of Delegation (HOD) will be  made available at the Parking des Nations.   WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
Page 2  
 
   
 Queries concerning access, parking and security issues should be addressed to: 
  BCI  Tel: +41 22 739 6117 
 Fax: +41 22 739 6111 
 e-mail: BCI@wto.org
 
  Delegations are advised that a num ber of demonstra tions beginning on 
Saturday 28 November have been scheduled. 
 
(c) Guided Tour of CICG 
 Two guided tours will be offered for delega tes on 11 November at 11.00 a.m. and at 
11.30 a.m.   Interested delegates are invited to pr esent themselves promptly at the reception counter of 
the CICG.  Delegations are informed that, due to an on-going event, not all rooms will be available for 
viewing. 
 (d) Bar and Restaurant Facilities 
  The CICG has two catering points, i.e. the Bar Léman on the ground floor and the Espace 
Restauration on the first floor.  Both of these facilities will be open during the Conference.   In 
addition, there are numerous restaurants in the area around the CICG.  
(e) Banking Facilities 
There is a UBS Bank close to the CICG at: 
 UBS SA Chemin Louis-Dunant 17bis  
Vermont-Nations  
1202 Genève  It offers full banking facilities and cash machines. 
 
II. THEME 
 As set out in the Decision taken by th e General Council on 26 May 2009 (WT/L/760), the 
general theme for the Conference shall be:   "The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System a nd the Current Global Economic Environment". 
 III. OFFICERS 
Chairperson: H.E. Mr. Andrés Velasco (Chile) 
Vice-Chairs: H.E. Mrs. Doris Leuthard (Switzerland)   H.E. Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu  (Indonesia)   H.E. Mr. Rachid Rachid (Egypt) 
  WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
 Page 3 
 
 
  IV. ORGANIZATION OF SESSIONS 
(a) Opening Session (Rooms 1, 2, 3, and 4) 
 The Conference will be opened at 3.00 p.m. on Monday 30 November.  Following addresses 
by the Chair, the Director-General, the Chair of the General Council and, as appropriate, heads of 
other intergovernmental organizations, the Chair wi ll propose the adoption of the Agenda.  He will 
then open the floor for the first speakers in the Pl enary Session, starting with the hosts of previous 
WTO Ministerial Conferences in chronological order, in keeping with established practice.  Seating in 
the Opening Session will be indicated by chair bands.  (b) Plenary Session (Room 2) 
 As at past Ministerial Conferences, the Plenary will provide an opportunity for Ministers to 
make prepared statements in accordance with th e List of Speakers which was opened for inscription 
on 28 October.  The Plenary Session will be open to the media and a limited representation from NGOs.  
 Interventions in the Plenary Session are limite d to 3 minutes per speaker.  A so-called traffic 
light system will be in operation to facilitate adhere nce to the allotted time period.  Longer statements 
can be submitted to the WTO Secretariat.  In th is respect, delegations are requested to transmit 
statements to the Secretariat, in advance of deliver y of the statement by the Minister, via e-mail to the 
following address:  statements@wto.org
. 
 
 A further Information Note concerning arrange ments for speakers in the Plenary Sessions will 
be issued shortly.  (c) Working Sessions (Room 1) 
 In parallel to the Plenary Session, there w ill be two Working Sessions on 1 December and 
2 December, respectively.  The Working Sessions w ill be aimed at providing an interactive forum for 
Ministers, giving them a platform for discussion under two broad sub-themes, as follows:   "Review of WTO activities, including the Doha Work Programme" (1 December)    This discussion will be introduced by the Director-General.    
 "The WTO's contribution to recovery, growth and development" (2 December) 
  This discussion will be introduced by the Chair of the Conference.   In the two Working Sessions in terventions will also be limited to 3 minutes per speaker.  A 
timing system will be in operation to facilitate adhe rence to the allotted time period.  It should be 
noted that there will be no pre-inscription of speaker s.  Interventions in the Working Sessions will be 
recorded in the records of the meeting and will be circulated in all three official languages after the 
Conference.  Participation in the Working S ession will be limited to Member and Observer 
Governments only, on the basis of Head of Delegation plus 3.  (d) Closing Session (Room 2) 
 The Closing Session will take place in Room 2, on Wednesday 2 December, from 
approximately 6.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.  WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
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  V. OUTCOME OF THE CONFERENCE  
 There will be a Chair's summary on his own responsibility.  All the discussions in the 
Working Sessions, and of course the Plenary, will also  be on the record.  In addition, any action taken 
by Ministers will be reflected in the records of the meeting.  VI. OVERALL PROGRAMME 
 Below is a preliminary overview of the programme for the Ministerial Conference.  
 
Programme for the Ministerial Conference
 
 
 Morning Afternoon Evening 
Monday 
30 Nov  3 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.  
Opening Session 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 
Reception for Heads of 
Delegation hosted by Swiss Minister at the CICG 
Tuesday 1 Dec  10 a.m.- 1 p.m. 
Plenary Session  
10 a.m.- 1 p.m.  
Working Session I 3 p.m. - 6.30 p.m. 
Plenary Session  
3 p.m. - 6.30 p.m. 
Working Session I  
Wednesday 
2 Dec 9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. 
Plenary Session  9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Working Session II 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 
Plenary Session  2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Working Session II 6.30 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Closing Session 
  Delegations are advised that meetings will begi n on time.  In this regard, delegations are 
encouraged to allow adequate time for traffic-rela ted delays and security screening at the CICG in 
advance of the scheduled meetings.  VII. MEETING ROOMS 
 Delegations are advised that only a very lim ited number of rooms for group and bilateral 
meetings will be available in the CICG from Monday 30 November.  To accommodate requests for 
meetings, the facilities at the CWR will also be av ailable during the Conference.  Delegations may 
reserve these rooms by contacting the WTO Conference Office by e-mail at 
conference.office@wto.org
 from Wednesday 25 November, or telephone: +41 22 739 5241. 
 
VIII.  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES 
 As provided for in WTO/AIR/3461 and WT/MIN(09)/INF/1, the WTO Secretariat is using 
online procedures for the registration of participants attending the Conference.  
 Delegations are requested to take note of the following: 
 
(a) All delegations who have not  yet nominated Delegation Coordinators should do so 
immediately.  WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
 Page 5 
 
 
  (b) The deadline for completing registration pr ocedures (submission of the attendance 
sheet) is Friday 13 November. 
(c) Only  Delegation Coordinators will be entitled to collect badges. 
(d) Badge distribution will commence Monday 23 November in the basement of the 
South Wing, CWR.  Opening hours of the distribution office are:  10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
from Monday 23 to Friday 27 November.  The office will also be open on 
Monday 30 November from 8 a.m.   
(e) Vehicle passes and other logistical material will be distributed at the same time as 
badges. 
For additional information concer ning registration, please contact: 
WTO Coordination Officer  
Languages, Documentation and In formation Management Division 
World Trade Organization Centre William Rappard Rue de Lausanne 154 
1211 Geneva 21 
Switzerland  e-mail:  registration.mc7@wto.org
 
Tel:  +41 22 739 5001  or visit the Accreditation Office outside CRI  (mornings only) Tel:  +41 22 739 5602. 
 
IX. ATTENDANCE OF OBSERVERS FROM GOVERNMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 The General Council has agreed to continue the past practice with respect to Observers.  This 
means that Observers at the Hong Kong Minister ial Conference, both Governments and IGOs, are 
invited to the Seventh Ministerial Conference, w ith the understanding that any new requests will be 
considered on a case-by-case basis in the usual way, in  line with the Rules of Procedure.  The list of 
the Observer Governments and IGOs invited to  the Conference can be found in document 
WT/MIN(09)/INF/6.   
X. HOTEL BOOKINGS 
 As mentioned in WT/MIN(09)/INF/2, delegati ons should make their bookings directly with 
the hotels concerned.  In doing so they can benef it from the reduced "UN" rate.  For further advice or 
in case of any problems, the Geneva Tourism a nd Convention Bureau has designated the following 
contact person:  
 Mr. Sébastien Kaech 
 Tel:  +41 22 909 7057  e-mail:  Kaech@geneva-tourism.ch
 
  Delegations are also reminded that a free public transport card is available to all guests in Geneva hotels. 
 WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
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  XI. VISAS  
 All relevant information related to visas is contained in document WT/MIN(09)/INF/3. 
 
XII. PARTICIPATION OF LDC OFFICIALS 
 Mr. Felipe Vargas-Maza, Logistics Unit Head , Institute for Training and Technical 
Cooperation (ITTC), will be coordinating the necessary  arrangements for the participation of the LDC 
Officials, to be sponsored by the WTO, to attend the Seventh Ministerial Conference.    Mr. Felipe Vargas  World Trade Organization 
 Centre William Rappard 
 154, rue de Lausanne  CH-1211 Geneva 21   Tel.: +41 22 739 50 18 
 Fax.: +41 22 730 57 24 
 e-mail:  felipe.vargas@wto.org
 
 
XIII.  NON-RESIDENT DELEGATIONS 
 To accommodate the needs of non-resident de legations, a separate and dedicated work area 
will operate on the second floor of the CICG.  This area will include PCs, printers and a photocopier.  
The contact person for non-resident delegations at the WTO Secretariat is:  
 
Mr. Hans-Peter Werner Development Division Room 2164 
World Trade Organization 
 Centre William Rappard  154, rue de Lausanne  CH-1211 Geneva 21 
 Tel:  +41 22 739 5286 
Fax: +41 22 739 6635  
e-mail:  peter.werner@wto.org
 
 
XIV.  MEDIA 
 The media working area will be located in the CICG on level -1.  All participants to the 
Ministerial Conference are welcome to visit this ar ea.  There will be three rooms available at the 
Centre for briefing the press.  These rooms have capacity of 80 seats, 120 seats and 290 seats.  The two larger rooms are equipped for interpretation.  All delegations are welcome to hold press briefings 
during the Ministerial Conference.  WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
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Any delegation wishing to brief the press should contact:   Mrs. Maire Nimhaidin Kiiamov  World Trade Organization  
Centre William Rappard 
154, rue de Lausanne CH-1211 Geneva 21 Switzerland  
Tel.: +41 22 739 5019 
Fax: +41 22 739 5458 email: press.events@wto.org
 
 All questions related to media accreditation should be addressed to: 
 
 Media Accreditation Unit  World Trade Organization  Centre William Rappard  154, rue de Lausanne  CH-1211 Geneva 21 
 Switzerland 
  Tel.: +41 22 739 6197  Fax.: +41 22 739 5458  e-mail:  media.accreditation@wto.org
 
 
 For general media-related enqui ries delegations should contact: 
  Information and External Relations Division   World Trade Organization  Centre William Rappard 
 154, rue de Lausanne 
 CH-1211 Geneva 21  
Switzerland 
  Tel.: +41 22 739 5007 
 Fax: +41 22 739 5458 
 email: enquiries@wto.org
 
 
XV. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 The official WTO NGO Centre will be located in the Centre de Conférence Varembé (CCV), 
situated opposite  of the CICG.  Registered NGO representatives that have collected their NGO 
Ministerial badge will have access to the NGO Cent re and its five conference rooms.  The NGO 
Centre is open to all accred ited delegations and media.   All delegations are welcome to brief NGOs 
during the Ministerial Conference.   Any delegation interested in doing so should contact the Information and External Relations 
Division at the number mentioned below or send an email to mc7.ngo@wto.org
.  The final NGO 
Centre programme will be posted on the WTO Ministerial website. 
 WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
Page 8  
 
  All questions related to Non-Government al Organizations should be addressed to: 
  Information and External Relations Division  World Trade Organization  Centre William Rappard 
 154, rue de Lausanne 
 CH-1211 Geneva 21  Switzerland   Tel.: +41 22 739 5254 
 Fax.: +41 22 739 5777 
 e-mail:  mc7.ngo@wto.org
 
 
XVI.  SECURITY ISSUES 
 A separate information note on security issues in  the context of the Ministerial Conference 
will be issued shortly. 
 
XVII.  DOCUMENTATION – A GREENER APPROACH 
 As announced in the information note WT/M IN(09)/INF/5 the Seventh Session of the 
Ministerial Conference will also see the introduc tion of a series of measures to ensure an 
environmentally greener and ecologically more respon sible meeting.  Avoiding the waste of resources 
will contribute to a further greening of the WTO's activities. 
  All public documents emanating from the Confer ence will also be posted in the Ministerial 
section of the WTO Website at http://www.wto.org
.  Ministers' Plenary statements submitted 
electronically will be posted there immediately in their original language and form, and translated 
versions will be available as soon as possible.  In this respect, delegations are requested to transmit 
statements to the Secretariat, in advance of deliver y of the statement by the Minister, via e-mail to the 
following address: statements@wto.org . 
 
XVIII.  NOTIFICATION OF CREDENTIALS OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 Members are reminded that Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure for Sessions of the Ministerial 
Conference (WT/L/161) provides, inter alia, that: 
  "The credentials of representatives shall be s ubmitted to the Secretariat at least one week 
before the opening of the session.  They shall take  the form of a communication from or on behalf of 
the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the competent authority of the Member authorizing the 
representative to perform on behalf of the Member  the functions indicated in the WTO Agreement.
1 
 
 1It is understood that in the case of a separate cu stoms territory Member the credentials of its 
representatives shall have no imp lication as to sovereignty."  WT/MIN(09)/INF/7 
 Page 9 
 
 
   
 Accordingly, Members who have not already d one so are requested to submit the credentials 
of their representatives participating in the Conference, as soon as possible to:   WTO Secretariat 
 Ms. T Bridgeman 
 Legal Affairs Division   Centre William Rappard  154, rue de Lausanne  CH-1211 Geneva 21 
  
 Tel: +41 22 739 5348  Fax: +41 22 739 5788  
 
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