RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/BFA/85/Rev.1 
11 May 2006 
 
 (06-2298) 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration  
  
 
 
REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6 FEBRUARY 2006
1 
 
Revision  
 
 
1. The WTO Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration met on 6 February 2006 under 
the chairmanship of Mr. Jan-Meinte Postma from the Netherlands.  The terms of reference and 
composition of the Committee are set out in documen t WT/L/44/Rev.1.  The agenda contained in 
document WTO/AIR/2745 was adopted. 
I. ADMINISTRATIVE UP-DATES AND PROGRESS REPORTS AS AT 
31 JANUARY 2006 
A. CASH SITUATION AND STATEMENT OF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS  
B. CONTRIBUTIONS OF OBSERVER COUNTRIES TOWARDS THE COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY 
THE SECRETARIAT – PROGRESS REPORT  
2. A member of the Secretariat presented the cash  situation, the statement of outstanding 
contributions from Members as at 31 January 2006, and a statement regarding the contributions of 
Observer countries towards the cost of services provide d by the Secretariat.  As at the reporting date, 
the total of funds available at CHF 70 million was higher  by 28 per cent than at the same date in 2005.  
Contributions received from Members amounted  to CHF 61 million for the current year and 
CHF 6 million for prior years, while those from Ob servers amounted to CHF 60,000.  The Working 
Capital Fund stood at CHF 9.3 million at 31 January 2006 .  Since the date of the report, one Member, 
Slovenia, made a payment.  Two Observers, Tonga a nd the Holy See, also made a payment toward the 
cost of services provided by the Secretariat. 
C. HUMAN RESOURCES MATTERS  
3. A member of the Secretariat introduced document CRP(06)05 and informed the Committee 
about the Staff Development and Training Prog ramme which would focus on the leadership 
programme, a compulsory on-line induction course fo r all newcomers, and the Special Recruitment 
Exercise to fill the new posts through a competitive process which should be finished by the end of 
June 2006.  The Committee was also informed about  the Netherlands Trainee Programme which had 
started with 15 trainees at the end of 2005 a nd another 15 in the firs t half of 2006.   
D. PENSION MATTERS  
4. A progress report document CRP(06)04 was presented by a member of the Secretariat who 
indicated that the Management Board had focussed its attention on the actuarial position of the Plan, 
                                                      
1 This report is to be read in conjunction with document WT/BFA/84 which contains the 
recommendation of the CBFA from its meeting on 6 February 2006 and approved by the General Council on 
8 February 2006. WT/BFA/85/Rev.1 
Page 2  
 
  the finalization of the Annual Report for 2004, the amendment of the statutory provisions governing 
determination of total and partial disability, and the selection of an alte rnative to the Swiss real estate 
mandate – a European real estate investment mana ger.  The Committee was fu rther informed that a 
working group had been established to review the current actuarial assumptions underpinning the 
valuation methodology and that the working group's report would be submitted in the course of 2006.  
Finally, it was pointed out that the Board would continue its discussion of the issue of same-sex 
marriages based on a legal opinion submitted by an ex ternal consultant at the next meeting of the 
Management Board. 
5. The Committee took note of the various reports. 
E. S
TATUS OF EXTRA -BUDGETARY ACTIVITIES : 
1. Technical Assistance Activity as at 30 December 2005 
2. Doha Development Age nda Global Trust Fund 
6. Another member of the Secretariat presented documents WT/BFA/SPEC/142 and 
CRP(06)06.  Members were informed that since th e accounts had not been closed yet, the figures 
were not final.  Therefore, the situation was presented as at 30 December.  It was further explained 
that the total expenditure in the DDAGTF amounted to CHF 15.3 million.  However, considering the 
fact that expenditure of approximately CHF 2.4 million was financed from the separately established 
funds, all of which were earmarked for activities included in the 2005 TA Plan, and the fact that 
expenditure amounting to CHF 3.8 million had b een included in 2004 accounts for activities to be 
carried out in 2005, the total actual expenditure was close to 21.5 million Swiss francs.  At the end of 
the year, funds of 7.4 million remained available in the GTF, which was more than the required 25 per 
cent of the target amount of 24 million Swiss Francs. 
7. It was further explained that pledges registered so far for the DDAGTF totalled 
CHF 6.6 million for 2006, which meant that the F und was still short of some CHF 9 million in order 
to meet  its target.  Furthermore, pledged contribut ions had not yet been received by the Secretariat, 
which could pose a problem in terms of cash flow in the near future.  The Secretariat therefore urged 
Members both (i) to pledge contributions in order to  reach the target and (ii) to effect payment of 
pledged contributions in order to enable the c ontinuation of the implementation of the Technical 
Assistance Training Plan. 
8. The Committee took note of the report. 
F. ORAL REPORT ON NEW WTO  ANNEXE  
9. A member of the Secretariat provided an oral progress report on the project to build the new 
WTO annexe.  Members were informed that the call for tenders had been sent out on 
30 September 2005 with a deadline of 20 December.  The analysis of the bids received should be 
completed by the end of March.  At the end of April 2006, the construction committee would submit a 
formal proposal to the WTO with regard to the sel ection of the contractor.  A recommendation to the 
CBFA would follow thereafter.  By the end of June, th e contract should be awarded in order to be able 
to finish the construction of the building by mid 2008. 
10. With respect to the loan from the Swiss author ities, it was further explained that the Federal 
Council had approved the text of a message to the two sessions of the houses of parliament proposing 
the grant of a loan of 60 million Swiss francs over 50 years on 9 November 2005.  The lower house 
was expected to approve the message in th e Spring and the upper house in June 2006.  WT/BFA/85/Rev.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  G. ORAL REPORT ON SECURITY  
11. The Committee was informed th at there was an urgent need to update the fire-fighting 
equipment as well as the evacuation plan and that  the necessary action would be taken as soon as 
possible. 
12. With regard to the work of the Management Group, it was explained that some progress had 
been made with regard to access to, a nd strengthening the security of, the site. 
13. The Committee took note of the two progress reports. 
II. INACTIVE MEMBERS 
14. A member of the Secretariat presented document WT/BFA/W/140 which provided a list of 
Members which, as of 31 January 2006, had arrears for three or more years commencing with the year 
1989. 
III. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES 
15. The Chairman presented document WT/BFA/W/141 which included some ideas in relation to 
a possible revision of the Administrative Measures.  Several Members expressed the need for further 
reflection and consultations with the Chairman.  This  item will be taken up again at the next meeting. 
IV. PROGRAMME FOR TRAINEES IN AND THROUGH THE WTO 
16.  Document CRP(06)03 was presented to the Committee providing an overview of the various 
training programmes in the WTO such as Internships,  PhD Interns, Internship s for Selected Missions 
in Geneva and the Netherlands Training Progra mme.  With regard to the Junior Professional 
Officer-Scheme, further consulta tions with countries who would like to contribute as well as with 
countries who may have observations  to make would take place. 
 
 
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