The ninth session of the Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development will be held from 22 to 25 February 2005 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. It will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 22 February 2005.

The provisional agenda for the ninth session of the Commission will be circulated as document TD/B/COM.3/65. At its ninth session, the Commission will consider three substantive items and the reports of related expert meetings. The first substantive item (item 3) deals with promoting the competitiveness and internationalization of developing countries´ firms. The second substantive item (item 4) deals with efficient transport and trade facilitation to improve participation by developing countries in international trade. The third substantive item (item 5) covers electronic commerce strategies for development.

Membership of the Commission is open to all States members of UNCTAD. States members of UNCTAD wishing to attend the session are requested to provide the UNCTAD secretariat with the credentials of their representatives and the names of their alternate representatives and advisers by 1 February 2005. States which are not members of the Commission are entitled to be represented by observers. Other participants (i.e. the specialized agencies and intergovernmental bodies, as well as non-governmental organizations in the General and Special Categories wishing to participate as observers) are requested to indicate the names of their representatives by the same date.

Upon arrival, participants are requested, before entering the Palais des Nations, to collect their badge at the UN Security Service, Villa Les Feuillantines, 13 Avenue de la Paix (close to the main entrance to the Palais on the Place des Nations, on the opposite side of the road). The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (non-stop). It is advisable to arrive by 9 a.m. to complete procedures and reach the session in good time. Walking from Villa Les Feuillantines to the E-Building (Bâtiment E) of the Palais takes about 10 minutes. Participants are requested to carry a passport or similar identification document with them. Taxis are not allowed to enter the grounds of the Palais des Nations, and visitors will therefore be dropped off at the requested entrance gates. Furthermore, luggage may not be brought into the buildings unless the Security Service gives special clearance.

Communications concerning representation should be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat, Intergovernmental Support Service, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10; fax: + 41(0)22 917 0056; e-mail: correspondence@unctad.org.

All enquiries should be addressed to the substantive officers concerned:

item 3 - tel: +41(0)22 917 5869; fax: +41(0)22 917 0122; e-mail: fulvia.farinelli@unctad.org;

item 4 - tel: +41(0)22 917 2038; fax: +41(0)22 917 2045; e-mail: peter.faust@unctad.org;

item 5 - tel: +41(0)22 917 2042; fax: +41(0)22 917 0050; e-mail: genevieve.feraud@unctad.org.

(signed)
Carlos Fortin
Officer-in-Charge of UNCTAD
23 December 2004