The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles Shri Anand Sharma today met outgoing Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO) Mr. Pascal Lamy and Director-General, WTO- Designate Mr. Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo in Paris.

During the meeting, Shri Sharma told them that India will play a constructive role in ensuring successful outcome in the Bali Ministerial. While recognising the importance of Trade Facilitation (TF) and upgrading infrastructure at border, ports and custom procedures for giving a boost to exports, Shri Sharma underscored the need for addressing the concerns of food security which have been outlined in a proposal presented by G-33 countries.

Shri Sharma assured Mr. Lamy and Mr. Azevedo that India will remain fully engaged with all key stakeholders from the developed and developing countries to find a fair and balanced outcome in Bali.

Shri Sharma stressed that the centrality of multilateral processes must be retained. All nations need to work together to strengthen WTO as an institution.

Later in the day, Shri Sharma will attend an informal WTO Ministerial meeting which will discuss the possible outcome at December Bali Ministerial.

DS/RK

(Release ID :96302)

Trade facilitation paired with food security concerns to shape a balanced multilateral outcome at Bali. India commits to active constructive engagement to secure a balanced Bali Ministerial outcome by advancing Trade Facilitation-upgrading border, port and customs infrastructure-while ensuring negotiated measures accommodate food security concerns articulated in the G-33 proposal, and by working with diverse stakeholders to preserve multilateral processes and strengthen the WTO.