  
  
INF/MSME/CN/8  
 
3 February 2021  
(21-0902) Page: 1/6 
  Original: English  
 
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 3 February 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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The Informal Working Group on MSMEs will hold its next regular meeting in virtual mode through 
the Interprefy platform on Friday 18 February 2021, starting at 10:00 a.m.  
 
The annex lays out relevant organisational and technical arrangements.  
 
The following items are pr oposed for the agenda:  
 
MORNING – 10:00 am-1:00 pm 
 
1  PRESENTATION BY THE GLOBAL EXPRESS ALLIANCE ASSOCIATION (10AM -11AM)  
1.1.  Carlos Grau Tanner, Director General of the Global Express Alliance (GEA), will present the GEA 
proposal on duty -tax collection on imported low value shipments. The proposal, circulated to the 
Group at the end of last year, is available via the following link:  
https://global -express.org/assets/files/GEA%20PROPOSAL%20ON%20DUTY -
TAX%20COLLECTION%20ON%20IMPORTED%20LOW%20VALUE%20SHIPMENTS.pdf  
2  PRESENTATION BY UNECE ON INTEGRATED SERVICES FOR MSMES IN INTERNATIONAL 
TRADE (11 :00 AM-11:45 AM)  
2.1.  On 29 October 2019, the Group heard a presentation by the United Nations Economic 
Commission for Europe on their Integrated Services for MSMEs in International Trade project, a 
conceptual framework that advocates for integrated, end -to-end trade serv ices platforms for MSMEs 
that want to trade across borders, which could be connected to national single -windows (see 
INF/MSME/R/11). The project has now been completed and will be presented to the Group. The 
white paper can be downloaded from:  
https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/cf_plenary/2020_Plenary/11a_ECE_TRADE_C_CEFACT_20
20_11E_ISMIT -WP.pdf . 
3  PRESENTATION BY THE OECD ON THE WOR K OF THE OECD WORKING GROUP ON SMES 
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP  (11:45 AM -12:30 PM)  
4  UPDATE ON THE DEVELOP MENT OF THE TRADE4MSMES  WEB PLATFORM  (12:30PM -1PM)  
4.1.  Update by Mexico. A factual background note was circulated in document INF/MSME/W/30.  INF/MSME/CN/8  
 
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  AFTERNOON  – 3:00 pm-6:00 pm 
 
5  DISCUSSION ON CYBERSECURITY AND MSMES  
5.1.  Canada will introduce the topic. Canadian officials will then present information on Canadian 
MSME cybersecurity initiatives and program mes. 
6  BRIEFINGS ON MSME -RELATED DISCUSSIONS IN WTO COMMITTEES, WORKING 
GROUPS AND PROGRAMME S 
6.1.  Members of the Group will be briefed on MSME -related discussions in the Working Group on 
Trade, Debt and Finance ; the Government Procurement Committee ; and the STDF . 
6.2.  This point is for transparency and information purposes only.  
7  SPONSORSHIP OF THE MSME PACKAGE (INF/MSME/4)  
7.1.  Update by the Chair on additional sponsors.  
8  ORGANIZATION OF WORK IN 2021  
8.1.  Members of the Group will be invited to discuss the organization of work in 2021, including 
topics on which they would like to focus and implementation of the MSME package.  
8.2.  To help guide discussions on potential future topics of work, a consolidation of topics mentioned 
in the MSME package or pu t forward by members, the private sector and other stakeholders was 
prepared by the Secretariat at the request of the Coordinator before the December meeting of the 
Group (see document INF/MSME/W/29).  
9  OTHER BUSINESS  
 
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  INF/MSME/CN/8  
 
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  ANNEX  
This annex lays out relevant organizational and technical arrangements.  
1  ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS  
1.1.  Both Geneva -based and capital -based officials of WTO Members and Observers are welcome 
to attend the meeting  virtually via the Interprefy platform. Both mod es of participation will enjoy 
the sa me participation privileges. Simultaneous interpretation in the three WTO official languages 
will be provided.  
• In view of technical constraints, it is strongly recommended that virtual attendance be limited 
to a maximum  of 3 persons per delegation . 
• All delegates wishing to attend the meeting, including capital -based officials, must, 
beforehand, register through the e-Registration  platform of the WTO website (please see 
the technical arrangements laid out further below ). 
• Any delegation experiencing technical difficulties  may call +41 22 739 6824 or email 
vcsupport@wto.org.  
• If technical difficulties result in delegations being unable to intervene virtually  under a 
given agenda item, the opportunity to take the floor will be given at an appropriate junct ure 
before the meeting closes. Should the technical problem persist, delegations may contact the 
Secretariat (carole.boureux@wto.org) during the course of the meeting, either to send their 
statement for it to be read out during the meeting, or to request t hat the Group be informed 
of their interest in the item under consideration and their intention to circulate their written 
statement to all Group members after the meeting.  
2  TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE  
2.1.  Delegations are kindly requested to r eview and take note of the technical arrangements for 
virtual attendance as set out further below.  
2.1  BEFORE THE MEETING  
2.2.  It is recommended that delegates log-in one hour before the start of the meeting to have 
an opportunity to test the connection and familia rize themselves with the functionalities of the 
system.  
2.3.  Device : Please do not use smartphones nor iPADs/tablets if you wish to take the floor during 
the meeting.  
2.4.  Browser : To connect to the meeting, please use either:  
 
 
2.5.  Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge will not work.  
2.6.  Location : Please stay in a fixed location.  
2.7.  Headset : a plug -in is the preferred option. Avoid Bluetooth devices if you wish to take the 
floor. 
INF/MSME/CN/8  
 
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  2.2  JOINING THE MEETING  
2.8.  Login to the WTO website with your WTO credentials  by clicking on the "Login" button in 
the top right corner. Your credentials are the email and password with which you registered through 
the WTO E -Registration platform.1 
2.9.  Once you are logged -in, click on TRADE TOPICS in the top row and then click on JOINT 
INITIATIVES and fi nally on Small Business/MSMEs  
(http://workingserver/english/tratop_e/msmes_e/msmes_e.htm ), scroll down to the table listing 
forthcoming meetings, and especially to the 18 February  meeting.  
2.10.   Click on the link " Access the meeting in Interprefy " (see an example below) and insert 
again your WTO credentials (the same email and password as before). You will then be taken directly 
to the virtual meeting on the Interprefy platform.  
 
 
2.11.   Allow  the system to access the microphone and camera . 
 
 
2.12.   Simultaneous interpretation in all three official languages will be provided. Choose your 
preferred language (Please note: "None " means listening to the floor, without interpretation). If 
you do not hear sound on the "None" channel, try switching to one of the language specific channels.  
 
 
 
1 If you are able to login onto the Members' restricted WTO website using your nominative email and 
password, then no action is needed. Otherwise, you will need to obtain credentials from your WTO Mission's 
Delegation Coordinator (DC), who will  need to  register you on the E -Registration system.  
To ensure a valid account, the DC  should:  
1. connect to eregistration.wto.org with his/her WTO need credentials;  
2. check if the delegate concerned already has a profile – if not, create one;  
3. make sure there is a login email in the delegate's profile;  
4. make sure the checkbox called "Virtual Meeting Access" or "VMA" is checked;  
5. click on "Send invitation to user to Set/Reset the password " – and the delegate will receive an email 
with a secure link so that he/she can create or reset her/his own individual password.  
All main and alter nate DCs can create/modify delegates' profiles in their delegation.  
INF/MSME/CN/8  
 
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2.3  DURING THE MEETING  
2.13.   To request the floor, press the "Raise Hand" button. The Chairman and Secretariat will be 
able to see delegates requesting the floor.  
   
 
2.14.   When the Chairman gives you the floor, you will see the following message. Please select 
VIDEO . 
 
 
2.15.   Please allow a few seconds of streaming before starting your intervention, to ensure your 
statement is heard in full. Remember to speak at a moderate pace  to facilitate simultaneous 
interpretation.  
2.16.   Once you have completed your intervention, click on the Disconnect button. This will not 
disconnect you from the meeting  – it will only stop transmitting your voice and image.  
 
 
2.4  AFTER THE MEETING  
IMPORTANT : Click the "log out" button (top right) after every Interprefy session 
otherwise you will continue to remain in that session and therefore unable to access the next one.  
 
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  2.5  MEETING TIPS  
Video  
 • Turn on an overhead/front light and face a window if possible.  
• Avoid backlight and frame your image and check the background – simple/neutral is 
best. 
• If you are speaking: keep any visual distractions to a minimum and replicate eye - 
contact by looking to the camera.  
 
Sound  
 • Choose a quiet environment and reduce background noise (indoors in an echo -free 
place).  
• Use only one device at a time.  
• Adjust the headset (do not put the microphone too close to your mouth) and the 
volume of your headphones.  
• When taking the floor, talk directly into the microphone, without turning your head 
away and moving the microphone.  
• Speak clearly with a normal voice when you ta ke the floor, at a moderate pace . 
 
 
 
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT ANY POINT, PLEASE CALL +41 22 739 68 24 
OR EMAIL vcsupport@wto.org  
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