INF/IFD/W/25  
 
18 September 2020  
(20-6334) Page: 1/4 
  Original: English  
 
WTO STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS ON  
INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
 
MEETING OF 24 -25 SEPTEMBER 2020  
 
ANNOTATED AGENDA BY THE COORDINATOR  
Following the decision taken by participating Members to move into negotiating mode,1 and as 
indicated in the 'Schedule of Meetings for the period September -December 2020' endorsed by 
participating Members at the open -ended virtual meeting held on 24 July,2 the purpose of this 
meeting is two -fold, namely:  
• to finalize the informal thematic  discussions on the remaining sections of the informal 
consolidated text that could not be addressed before the summer break due to lack of time;3  
and 
• to start the negotiations on a multilateral framework on investment facilitation for development.   
 
The intention is to deal with items 1 and 2 below in the first day (24 September). All Members are 
encouraged to actively participate in the discussion. In  the interest of time, Members are nonetheless 
invited to be concise in their presentations and interventions. The discussion on items 3 onwards 
will start immediately thereafter, if possible, already in the first day as well.  
In keeping with the open, tra nsparent and inclusive nature of this initiative, all WTO Members are 
invited to participate in the meeting.  
1  BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF ANY NEW TEXT PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS SINCE 
THE LAST MEETING  
1.1.  In case new text proposals are submitted since the previous meeting held on 24 July, the 
Member(s) concerned  will be invited to briefly introduce  the submission(s). Thereafter, the floor will 
be opened for general questions and comments on such text propos als. Delegations are kindly 
requested to reserve their questions or comments on the specifics of the text proposals for the 
upcoming negotiations.  
2  INFORMAL THEMATIC DISCUSSION  
2.1.  As in the previous four open -ended informal meetings, the discussion on the rem aining sections 
of the informal consolidated text (INF/IFD/RD/50/Rev.2) will be organized thematically, on an 
element -by-element basis.  
2.2.  Discussions will resume where they were adjourned at the last meeting, namely, starting from 
Section IV – Contact/focal  point/Ombudsperson types of mechanisms, arrangements to enhance 
domestic coordination and cross -border cooperation on investment facilitation – and to be followed 
successively by sections V, VI and VII.  
 
1 See the summaries of the meetings contained in d ocument s INF/IFD/R/10 dated 17 Jan uary 2020; as 
well as  INF/IFD/R/ 15 dated 31 August 2020 ( notably sections 3 a nd 4 thereof ).  
2 Document INF/IFD/W/24/Rev. 3 of 18 September  2020.  
3 Sections IV, V , VI and VII of the informal consolidated text (INF/IFD/RD/50/Rev.2 dated 15 July 2020) 
or of any subsequent revision thereof, if appropriate.  INF/IFD/W/25  
 
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  2.3.  As in the previous informal meetings, under each se ction and in successive order:  
➢ Members who so wish will be invited to briefly present their text proposals or contributions 
on the corresponding section, if any;  
➢ After which, the floor will be opened to all Members for their views, questions or comments 
on the text proposals/contributions by Members as well as on the informal consolidated text.  
3  ORGANIZATION OF WORK FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2020  
3.1.  After a brief introduction by the Coordinator, Members will be invited to share any comments 
on the P roposed Working Methodology annexed to this annotated agenda, as they deem appropriate 
with a view to its endorsement at the meeting.  
4  NEGOTIATIONS ON INVESTMENT FACILITATION FOR DEVELOPMENT  
4.1.   Starting this meeting, participating Members will review the info rmal consolidated text 
alongside any other available text proposals by Members not yet incorporated into the consolidated 
text, taking into account the need for consistency throughout the text and the interlinkages among 
provisions in different sections.  
4.2.  As the aim is to advance , as much as possible , on the drafting of specific provisions of the 
future investment facilitation framework, Members are encouraged to focus on - and express their 
preferences for - concrete drafting formulations.  
4.3.  The themes and e lements in the consolidated text that will be addressed at this meeting are 
the following:  
Section II: Transparency of investment measures  
• Publication and availability of measures and information  
• Notification to the WTO  
• Enquiry points  
• Specific exceptions to transparency requirements  
Section III: Streamlining and Speeding up Administrative Procedures and Requirements  
• Consistent, reasonable, objective and impartial administration of measures  
• Reduction and simplification of administrative procedure s and documentation 
requirements  
• Clear criteria for administrative procedures  
• Authorization procedures  
• Treatment of incomplete and rejection of applications  
• Fees and charges  
• Periodic review of administrative procedures and requirements  
• Use of ICT/e -governm ent, including electronic applications  
• One-stop shop/single window -types of mechanisms  
• Independence of competent authorities  
• Appeal and review  
4.4.  The remaining elements/sections of the informal consolidated text will be addressed in the 
subsequent meetings.  At the next meeting (scheduled on 8 -9 October), Members will have the 
opportunity to revert to issues discussed at this meeting.  INF/IFD/W/25  
 
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  5  OTHER BUSINESS  
5.1.  The International Trade Centre (ITC) has requested to brief participating Members on the 
proceedings of the 3rd Virtual Capacity Building Workshop on "Implementing a Multilateral 
Framework on Investment Facilitation for Development", co -organized by the ITC, the German 
Development Institute (DIE), the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) an d 
the World Economic Forum (WEF), and which will be held online on 23 September 2020, from 14:00 
to 17:00 Geneva time.  
5.2.  To facilitate the organization of the meeting, this briefing will be made at 15:00 on the first 
day (24 September). Any other business th at Members may raise will be taken up at the end of the 
second day (25 September) as usual.  
_______________  
 INF/IFD/W/25  
 
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  ANNEX  
PROPOSED WORKING METHODOLOGY  
SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2020  
The following working methodology has been prepared under the Coordinator's responsibility to assist 
Members in the negotiating phase of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for 
Development for the period September – December 2020.  
1. Follow ing the decision taken by participating Members to move into negotiating mode1, work in 
the upcoming months will intensify and focus on further developing the elements and specific 
provisions of a multilateral framework on investment facilitation for deve lopment.  
 
2. The informal consolidated text, which includes all the text proposals by Members received thus 
far, will serve as a basis for Members' substantive discussions on the different issues under 
consideration. Any new text proposals by Members will be incorporated into the informal 
consolidated text with the aim of facilitating negotiations, delegations' consultations in their 
respective capitals and outreach efforts towards other WTO Members.  
3. At each of the meetings, participating Members will review t he informal consolidated text 
alongside any other available text proposals by Members not yet incorporated into the 
consolidated text, taking into account the need for consistency throughout the text and the 
interlinkages among provisions in different sect ions. At each subsequent meeting, the discussion 
will resume at the provision where the discussion was adjourned at the previous meeting. At 
each meeting, Members will have the opportunity to revert to issues discussed at previous 
meetings.  
4. After each meet ing, a short non -attributable informal summary will be prepared under the 
Coordinator's responsibility. When appropriate, the  Coordinator may make suggestions, 
including drafting suggestions, to identify and increase convergence, based on the proposals and  
comments made by Members on the different issues under consideration. Those suggestions by 
the Coordinator will be circulated to Members as soon as possible for their consideration at the 
following meeting.    
5. Members are encouraged to work among themselves between meetings in order to advance the 
negotiations and facilitate convergence. The Coordinator may convene additional inter -sessional 
meetings and/or informal meetings under different formats and configura tions to discuss specific 
elements/issues under consideration, as appropriate. The Coordinator will be available for 
bilateral or small group consultations.  
6. In keeping with the Joint Initiative's open, transparent and inclusive nature, all Members are 
invited to attend and participate in the meetings of the Structured Discussions.  
 
__________  
 
1 See the summaries contained in documents INF/IFD/R/10, dated 17 January 2020, and INF/IFD/R/15, 
dated 31 August 2020.