Press Releases

Emphasising the importance of inclusive growth, Shri Kamal Nath said: “A few years ago we sensed the dangers that rapid growth without “inclusive” development can pose to the social polity. We found that our growth process was not creating as many jobs as we needed and the industrial and services sector growth was very urban centric. For the last three years we have, therefore, been moulding policies which, while ensuring that growth continues unhindered and faster, make the benefits more evenly spread, and reach the common man – what we in India call the ‘aam aadmi’.”

He said the attraction of India lay in three distinct aspects: First, India's current and potential economic growth making it very attractive to the world at large. Second, India's politico-legal complexion based on sound and time-tested tenets fully acceptable to the civil society around the world. And third, the inherent stability of India’s democratic institutions, its multi-culturalism and its hugely successful diaspora.

Referring to the Doha round Shri Kamal Nath said: “The virtual suspension of the Doha Round negotiations last July has brought into focus not only the substantive issues which are the subject of discord, but also the institutionalised power asymmetries which continue to pervade the WTO. While its professed objective is greater openness in all aspects of trade, in practice this objective is observed in a highly selective manner that reflects the predilections and concerns of developed countries. Let me give just a few examples of this selective openness: National borders should matter less and less for merchandise trade and capital flows. But we are told – don’t talk about technology flows and labour flows. Subsidies are bad for industrial sectors, but on agricultural subsidies, the only thing we hear is that we’ll get back to you. Tariffs should be transparent and ad valorem in the industrial sector. In agriculture, now, that’s something else! The private interests of IPR holders are sacred; issues of public interest regarding intellectual property are of a second order. Talk of a Development Round remains largely rhetorical. Issues of serious concern like cotton, ushering in fair and undistorted agricultural world trade, Duty Free Quota Free Treatment for LDC’s, Implementation Issues, etc. remain unresolved. The fundamental principle of special & differential treatment for developing countries to address their concerns of policy space in the major areas of negotiations remains deadlocked. There is as yet, no recognition by some developed countries that the basic premise of a Development Round is primacy for the development needs of developing countries, and not market access for developed countries. The unity amongst the developing countries has been our strength; it has withstood all pressures to undermine the development promise of the Doha Round. In our work ahead, I intend to continue working with my colleagues in order to create that balance of give-and-take across the Doha Work programme as a whole that will make winners of each of us”.

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SB/NR/MRS