India will press for greater market access for developing countries in the services sector besides highlighting concerns in agriculture and industrial goods negotiations at the World Trade Organisation mini-ministerial on Saturday at Davos.
The mini-ministerial, being held on the sidelines of World Economic Forum Summit at Davos in Switzerland, is aimed at giving a new impetus to the ongoing multilateral trade talks.
India and the WTO: News and Issues
The meeting also assumes significance in the backdrop of the race for WTO Director General hotting up. Former EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and three other candidates are in fray.
The candidates in the fray to succeed Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand are: Luiz-Felipe de Seixas Correa of Brazil, Lamy of France, Jayen Cuttaree of Mauritius and Carlos Perez del Castillo of Uruguay.
Commerce Minister Kamal Nath will spearhead developing countries views for greater market access in services and industrial goods sectors after the July Framework laid down the roadmap for negotiations in farm sector.
He is expected to reiterate the concerns of G-20 with regard to agriculture like capping of Blue Box support at five per cent.
The ministerial provides an opportunity to give a push to the technical discussions on agriculture scheduled to take place in the first week of February in Geneva.
Apart from the US, EU and India, about 13 G-20 countries like China, Brazil, South Africa are attending the meeting.