The twenty-seventh session of the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting (ISAR) is scheduled to be held from 13 to 15 October 2010 and will commence at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 13 October, in room XXVI of the Palais des Nations, in Geneva.

As per the agreement reached by member States at the twenty-sixth session of ISAR, the topic proposed for the main agenda item at the twenty-seventh session is "Capacity-building framework for high quality corporate reporting". Under "other business", such topics as corporate governance disclosure, environmental accounting and reporting, and the results of a survey on corporate governance disclosure will be discussed. The UNCTAD secretariat has prepared reports on these topics with a view to facilitating experts´ deliberations at the session. The provisional agenda and annotations and other documentation will be circulated in due course.

During the twenty-seventh session of ISAR, experts will also deliberate on a capacity-building framework for high quality corporate reporting. The session will provide participants with an opportunity to exchange views and lessons learned on capacity-building for high quality corporate reporting. In addition, several international and regional organizations engaged in the areas of financial reporting, auditing, corporate governance and corporate responsibility reporting will provide updates on their respective activities.

Member States of UNCTAD are requested to submit to the UNCTAD secretariat by 29 September 2010 the names of the experts who will participate in the session. As noted above, the main agenda item of the twenty-seventh session will be a capacity-building framework for high quality corporate reporting.

It will thus be beneficial for member States to send experts who have the necessary background and responsibilities in this area. Furthermore, in accordance with the outcome of the consultations on the review of the functioning of ISAR, on 29 October 1999, the Trade and Development Board called for greater participation by experts from all member States of UNCTAD in the work of ISAR.

United Nations bodies and programmes, specialized agencies and intergovernmental bodies, should they wish to participate in the session, as well as non-governmental organizations in the general category and those in the special category that wish to participate as observers, are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat of the names of their representatives by the 29 September.

Upon arrival, participants are requested, before entering the Palais des Nations, to collect their badges at the United Nations Security Service, Pregny Gate entrance, 14 avenue de la Paix. The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Because of the security measures in force, participants are strongly advised to arrive before 9 a.m. in order to complete entry procedures in good time and proceed to the meeting in the E Building (Bâtiment E) of the Palais. Participants are requested to carry a passport or similar national identity card 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 United Nations Security Service gives special clearance.

Communications concerning representation at the session should be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat, Intergovernmental Support Service, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, fax: +41 (0)22 917 02 14, e-mail: meetings@unctad.org.

Enquiries concerning substantive issues should be addressed to the Enterprise Development Branch, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10; tel: +41 22 917 5899; fax: +41 22 917 0122; e-mail: vanessa.mccarthy@unctad.org.

(signed)

Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
27 July 2010