WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/INF/1 
4 July 2011  
 
(11-3276) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011  
 
  
EIGHTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
 
Information Circular No.1 
   Taking account of the obligations set out in Ar ticle IV, paragraph 1, of the WTO Agreement, 
the Eighth Session of the Ministerial Conferen ce will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 
15 - 17 December 2011, as agreed by the Gene ral Council at its meeting in October 2010.  
 
 The following information circular is the fi rst in a series to inform delegations about 
important logistical matters relating to the Eigh th Session.  Subsequent circulars will be made 
available to delegations as soon as possible and w ill address in greater detail issues such as 
accreditation, security and the programme of meetings.  I. VENUE 
 The Conference will take place at: 
 
Centre International de Conférences 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) 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.   
  Queries concerning access, parking and security issues should be addressed to: 
 
 BCI 
 Tel:  +41 22 739 5958  Fax:  +41 22 739 6111  E-mail:  BCI@wto.org  
 
 A separate information note on security issu es will be circulated at a later date. WT/MIN(11)/INF/1 
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(b) 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. 
 
(c) 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. 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 and Centre de Conférence de Varembé (CCV).  To 
accommodate requests for meetings, the facilities at the Centre William Rappard (CWR) will also be 
available during the Conference. A separate in formation note regarding meeting rooms will be 
circulated at a later date. 
 
III. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES 
 As has been the practice during previous Mi nisterial Conferences, the WTO Secretariat will 
use online procedures for the registration of participants attending the Eighth Session.  
 
 Delegations are requested to take note of the following:   (a) Delegation Coordinators are the focal po ints for all matters pertaining to accreditation 
and registration. 
 
 (b) Member and Observer Delegations who wish to replace their Delegation 
Coordinators should do so immediately by using the attached form (see the e-directory for names of your existing Coordinators). 
  WTO Coordinator Officer 
 Languages, Documentation and In formation Management Division 
 World Trade Organization  Centre William Rappard  Rue de Lausanne 154  1211 Geneva 21  
 E-mail:  dc.registration@wto.org  
  WT/MIN(11)/INF/1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  IV. HOTEL BOOKINGS 
A separate information note regarding hotel boo kings will be circulated at a later date. 
 
V. VISAS  
 A separate information note regarding visas will be circulated shortly.  At this stage, however, 
delegations requiring visas for Switzerland are a dvised to apply as soon as possible to the Swiss 
authorities.  
VI. 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 Eighth Session of the 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  
 
VII. MEDIA AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 Separate information notes regarding arrangements, including accreditation, for media and 
Non-Governmental Organizations will be circulated at a later date. 
 
VIII.  SECURITY ISSUES 
 A separate information note on security issues in  the context of the Ministerial Conference 
will be issued shortly.  
IX. DOCUMENTATION – A GREENER APPROACH 
 The Eighth Session of the Ministerial Conference will continue to introduce initiatives to 
ensure an environmentally greener and ecologically more responsible 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 .   WT/MIN(11)/INF/1 
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X. 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 
  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 Bridgman 
 Legal Affairs Division   Centre William Rappard  154, rue de Lausanne  CH-1211 Geneva 21   
 Tel:  +41 22 739 5348 
 Fax:  +41 22 739 5788  
_______________ 
 
                                                      
1 "It is understood that in the case of a separate  customs territory Member the credentials of its 
representatives shall have no implication as to sovereignty."  WT/MIN(11)/INF/1 
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NOMINATION OF DELEGATION COORDINATORS 
 by  
 
 
 Please attach photo here  
WTO MEMBERS / OBSERVER GOVERNMENTS / 
OBSERVER INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 
Delegation:        ______________________________________________________________________  
 Name of the Delegation Coordinator       Mr, Ms, Mrs  
Family Name:         _____________________  First (Given) Name:       _____________________  
 Title / Post:        ______________________________________________________________________  
 Ministry / Department / Mission:        ____________________________________________________  
 
Address:        ________________________________________________________________________  
   ________________________________________________________________________   Passport Number:        ________________________________________________________________  
 
Telephone:         ________________________  Mobile:        _______________________________  
 Fax:        ____________________________________________________________________________   E-mail:        _________________________________________________________________________  
 
Date:        _____________________________  Signature: ___________________________________   
Language: (tick only one box ) English   
 French    Spanish    
 
 
Permanent Representative/Hea d of IGO:      ______________________________________________  
   Date:        _____________________________  Signature:   __________________________________ 
 
 
Only valid when stamped and signed by the responsible authority 
World Trade Organization 
Centre William Rappard – Rue de Lausanne 154 – 1211 Geneva 21 – Switzerland 
E-mail:  dc.registration@wto.org  
__________