. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/BFA/W/177 
2 October 2008 
 
 (08-4685) 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration  
  
 
RELOCATION AND RENOVATION ESTIMATES 
 
 1. At the meeting of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration on 27 May 2008, 
the Secretariat recalled (WT/BFA/W/171) that the current budget contained relatively few provisions 
to finance the office transfer from the annexe at the rue Rothschild to the new annex at the Chemin 
des Mines (CDM).  The reason for this situation is that definitive information on the choice of the site 
for the new annexe had not yet been taken, and consequently no assessment of necessary works had 
been made, when the budgets for the biennium 2008-2009 were under discussion. 
2. At the Committee's meeting in May, it was noted that preliminary cost estimates amounted to 
CHF 2,224,200, of which CHF 564,200 was availa ble in the 2008 budget for foreseen relocation 
expenses.  The Secretariat also highlighted that it was confident that, as a result of economy measures 
and savings, the unforeseen costs could be covere d within the 2008 budget envelope, and would 
therefore not lead to an over expenditure in the final 2008 accounts. 
3. The cost estimates initially identified covered primarily areas over which the WTO has direct 
control, such as moving expenses, the purchase of office, cafeteria and meeting room furniture, 
security installations, and some IT costs.  They also  covered certain works to return the annexe at the 
rue Rothschild to its original state. 
4. The FIPOI, as primary renter of the CDM bu ilding, has had extensive contacts with the 
representatives of the owners of the CDM.  It has al so consulted with the WTO on a regular basis with 
regard to other and more important  renovations to ensure an adequate work environment for the units 
which will work in the building. 
5. These renovations concern certain structural changes to accommodate the various services 
which will be housed in the CDM as well as installati on of electrical and IT system outlets, extensive 
IT and security cabling, air conditioning for the IT data centre, and an emergency generator.   
6. At the end of July, the FIPOI communicated to the WTO their general estimates of the costs 
for the works mentioned under paragraph 5 above.  They are not yet in a position to confirm these 
costs with formal estimates, but have indicated that  they are relatively confident with these figures.  In 
addition, the building owner has undertaken painting and carpeting works in the CDM, but the FIPOI has not indicated the cost investment nor whet her the owner has made or will make further 
investments in the building. 
7. The attached table shows that the total of th e estimates amounts to CHF 3.6 million, while the 
funding foreseen in the 2008 budget stands at CHF 0.6 million.  Nevertheless, the Secretariat is 
confident that the balance of CHF 3.0 million w ill be able to be accommodated within the 2008 
overall budget.  This is due primarily to the fact  that actual salary increases were inferior to the 
projections included in the 2008 budget, that the Un ited Nations refused certain increases in the ITC 
budget for 2008, which will entail a savings for the WT O in its contribution, and that efforts are being 
implemented in order to produce savings in various  areas in view of the unforeseen costs related to 
relocation and renovation expenses in 2008.   WT/BFA/W/177 
Page 2  
 
8. The major part of expenditures with regard to works in the CDM are exp ected to occur before 
the end of 2008, and they will consequently be recorded in the accounts for this year.  Any 
implications for 2009 will be examined in the c ontext of the mid-term re view of the 2008-2009 
biennium. 
RELOCATION AND RENO VATION EXPENSES 
 
 Initial 
estimates Revised 
estimates FIPOI 
estimates Total 
estimates 
Moving expenses general 251,500  251,500    251,500  
Moving expenses (data centre)  200,000    200,000  
Structural modifications    180,000  180,000  
Work on additional space 3rd floor CDM    120,000  120,000  
Purchase of office furniture 806,000  740,000    740,000  
Other equipment/elements 238,500  138,500  140,000  278,500  
Telephones and electricity 70,000  70,000  332,000  402,000  
Security installations 387,200  387,200  55,000  442,200  
Back-up generator     100,000  100,000  
IT and security cabling     157,000  157,000  
Air conditioning (data centre)     240,000  240,000  
IT needs 491,000  491,000    491,000  
Total estimates 2,244,200  2,278,200  1,324,000  3,602,200  
WTO funding available (564,200) (564,200)   (564,200) 
Balance 1,680,000  1,714,000  1,324,000  3,038,000  
 
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