New Delhi: The Indian Chair of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairs Programme (WCP) hosted a two-day regional conference on the theme “Fostering Resilient and Responsible Trade for a Changing Global Order” at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on September 27-28, 2024. The event brought together policymakers, scholars, and trade experts from across Asia and Africa to discuss strategies for navigating the evolving global trade landscape.
Organized by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), represented by its Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) and Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), the conference focused on key challenges and opportunities in promoting resilient trade practices. Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, inaugurated the event.
Key takeaways from the conference included the need to align regional and multilateral trade strategies to create coherent global trade norms, addressing trade barriers through digital tools for inclusivity, and the importance of robust climate action tailored to the unique challenges of developing nations.
The event featured addresses from several distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Senthil Pandian C., India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO; Amb. Xiangchen Zhang, Deputy Director General of the WTO; Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of IIFT; Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Head of CTIL and India Chair of WCP; H.E. Ms. Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand, Permanent Representative of France to the WTO; and Jung Sung Park, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Korea to the WTO.
Over the two days, the conference held seven thematic sessions on various topics such as regional trade law, green industrial policies, the role of critical minerals in clean energy futures, and sustainable climate actions. One of the highlights was the keynote address by Prof. Joel Trachtman of Tufts University, U.S., and a special address by NITI Aayog CEO, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam.
A significant focus of the discussions was on integrating sustainability into global trade practices, including responsible extraction of critical minerals and supporting the digital transformation of trade. Representatives from WCP Chairs in Asia and Africa shared their national and regional perspectives on these issues, providing insights into the trade challenges faced by developing nations.
The event concluded with a roundtable discussion among WCP Chairs, exploring potential collaborations between Asian and African institutions. The chairs discussed the role of the WTO in facilitating academic partnerships and knowledge exchange, underscoring the importance of collective efforts to support sustainable development goals.