UNCITRAL and its Work to Support Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

1. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
UNCITRAL and its Work to Support Micro, Small and
Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)
Kate Lannan
Secretary of WG I on MSMEs
UNCITRAL Secretariat

2. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
What is UNCITRAL?
– Established in 1966
• Core legal body in the UN system in
the field of international trade law
– Purpose:
• Harmonise and modernise
• Reduce barriers faced by business

3. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
How does UNCITRAL do this?
• Intergovernmental negotiations
• Establish legal standards
– > Hard law ---> Soft law
• Implementation by States
• May be assisted by IGOs
• Reduce barriers for business

4. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
How does UNCITRAL add value?
Inclusive intergovernmental process:
• States
• Expertise and industry input:
– IGOs
– NGOs

5. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
Texts widely accepted
• Different legal traditions
• States at different stages of economic
development
• 6 UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian Spanish
How does UNCITRAL add value?

6. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
Commercial Law Areas
– Dispute Resolution
– Transport Law
– Insolvency Law
– Electronic Commerce
– Secured Transactions
– Procurement
– International Sale of Goods
– MSMEs

7. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
Work on MSMEs
• Intergovernmental Working Group
• Mandate: reducing the legal obstacles
encountered by MSMEs throughout their
life cycle

8. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
Work on MSMEs
Initial focus: Beginning of life cycle:
(1) Legislative Guide on simplified business entity
(2) Legislative Guide on key principles in business
registration

9. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
What’s a Legislative Guide?
• Commentary reflecting State practice
• Recommendations

10. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
Who needs a Legislative Guide?
• “We already have legislation!”
• Aspirational

11. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
Conclusion
• Get involved!
– National delegations
– NGOs
• Informal Expert Group Meeting in Cardiff
– Wednesday 17h00
– Room TBA

12. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
Conclusion
• Next UNCITRAL Working Group sessions:
– 3 to 7 October 2016 – UN in Vienna, Austria
• Legislative Guide on simplified business
entities
– May 2017 – UNHQ in New York
• Legislative Guide on business registration
We need your expertise and experience to
create a useful text for everyone!

13. UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
UNCITRAL
For further information on how to become involved
or on the work of UNCITRAL generally:
See www.uncitral.org/
E-mail me: kate.lannan@uncitral.org
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION