56. The Chairperson recalled that the Council had agreed, at its last meeting, to focus on technical cooperation at the present meeting. In preparation for this annual review, developed country Members were once more requested to update information on their technical and financial cooperation activities relevant to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement in time for this meeting. Other Members who also made available technical cooperation were encouraged to share information on these activities if they so wished. In addition, intergovernmental organizations observers to the Council as well as the WTO Secretariat were also invited to provide information. As of 20 September 2001, updated information had been received from Australia, Japan, Switzerland and the United States, as well as from WIPO, the FAO, the IMF, WHO, UPOV, UNCTAD and the WTO Secretariat. The information from developed country Members had been circulated in documents IP/C/W/306 and addenda, from intergovernmental organizations in documents IP/C/W/305 and addenda, and from the WTO Secretariat in document IP/C/W/304. Given that some of this information had been received only shortly before the meeting and that most of it was only available in the original language, he suggested that Members be given an opportunity to comment on it at the next meeting as well.
