Seven trade ministers to participate in India’s WTO mini-ministerial meet

New Delhi: Trade ministers from seven countries including Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal will participate in the India-hosted informal gathering of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) starting today.

While five countries including a few African countries have expressed regret for being unable to send trade ministers for the mini ministerial, sources said Pakistan had registered for the meeting and nominated a representative.

Trade ministers of Morocco and Guinea, who were earlier slated to attend the meeting, will now be represented by senior officials.


India is hosting the informal ministerial meeting on March 19-20 in the aftermath of talks collapsing at the eleventh ministerial conference (MC11) in Buenos Aires in December as the US backtracked on its commitment to discuss agricultural issues, which is India’s key area of interest.

WTO director general Roberto Azevedo will also participate in the gathering whose objective is to discuss ways to revitalise the WTO to ensure predictable and transparent system of rule-making in the area of international trade especially when protectionism is rising across the globe.