Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma said in Paris on Thursday that India will fully engage for a balanced outcome in the WTO ministerial conference to be held in Bali in December this year. Sharma said this during his meeting with outgoing World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy and designate Director-General Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.
Sharma also informed the WTO chief that food security for the poor could not be compromised. “This is essential to protect the interest of the subsistence farmers in developing countries and also the responsibility of the state for assuring food security for the poor and vulnerable section of the society,” the ministry quoted Sharma as saying.
Sharma said that India will play a constructive role for a successful outcome at the 9th WTO ministerial conference to be held from December 3-6. The Minister also accepted the importance of Trade Facilitation (TF) and upgrading infrastructure at border, ports and custom procedures for giving a boost to exports, the ministry said.
“Sharma underscored the need for addressing the concerns of food security which have been outlined in a proposal presented by G-33,” the statement added.
Thursday’s meeting was convened by Australia to bring the stalled and much delayed Doha Round of Talks back on track. The key members of the WTO are striving to come to an amicable conclusion to several issues which have proved to be a roadblock to the progress of the negotiations and agree on an early harvest package. Sharma also attended an informal WTO ministerial meeting later on Thursday.