Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, today said India has emerged as the voice of the Developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the recently concluded 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the WTO in Geneva.

 

Addressing a press conference here today after leading the Indian delegation to the MC12, Shri Goyal said several decisions have emerged from the MC12 after a long time. Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India 'batted on the forefront' during negotiations on various issues.

 

'In fact, a statement also has emerged out of WTO after seven years,' said Shri Goyal, a day after returning from the Europe visit. 'Almost every WTO decision bears India’s signature, India is seen leading from the front and India’s concerns are visible prominently in the outcome documents. We have been cent percent successful in stating our point of view, getting our agenda approved at the talks,' he added.

 

Shri Goyal said there has been progress during the MC12 at the WTO on several issues, a slew of international agreements have been arrived at after a gap of several years. India not only secured the interests of its farmers, fishermen, MSME sector, poor people and all sections but also ensured their concerns are preserved in the future.

 

Shri Goyal said we neither came under any pressure, nor buckled under pressure at any time. Far from being initially projected as a ‘Deal Breaker’ by certain countries, India finally emerged as a ‘Deal Maker’ at the WTO talks, he said.

 

'In fact, few countries stated that India was not allowing any agreement. Reality was very different! The reality was that a few countries created hurdles towards agreement with the vain hope that they could rope in India later, make India hop the bandwagon and that India’s voice is lost in the din,' he said.

 

Shri Goyal said before the MC12 everybody had written off multilateralism, stating that bilateralism is the way forward but the MC12 has been the most successful conference.

 

'No one expected agreements on an array of issues. We have come up with very important decisions. This WTO's success is largely because of India's leadership as we helped navigate everybody's view point,' he said.

 

Shri Goyal said India’s motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One Family) echoed during the MC12 and India strongly put forth the cause of the poor and vulnerable sections.

 

'The world has recognized that India has a point, India’s agenda has a strong reasoning, our arguments represent bare truth and there is sensitivity in our motive,' he said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday reiterated the Diwali timeline for a draft India-UK free trade agreement (FTA), declaring that the proposed trade deal with New Delhi would be the biggest yet in the post-Brexit context.

 

In a statement to mark the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the Rwandan capital of Kigali on Monday, Johnson plugged for the 'Commonwealth advantage' which added immense value to all 54-member countries of the organisation.

 

He pointed out how India, as the largest member of the grouping, will be at the same table as the smallest for CHOGM, indicating the diverse strengths of the Commonwealth.

 

'The Pacific archipelago of Tuvalu (population of 11,000) will be at the same table as India (population 1.3 billion). Yet for all the differences between us, we are joined by an invisible thread of shared values, history and institutions and of course the English language,' Johnson writes in 'The Daily Telegraph' newspaper.

 

'All of this creates a unique opportunity for Britain whereby the Commonwealth - and only the Commonwealth - combines vast and rapidly growing markets with a real and quantified trading advantage. That is why we are mobilising the UK's regained sovereignty to sign free trade or economic partnership agreements with as many Commonwealth countries as possible. So far we've done 33, including Australia and New Zealand, and we're aiming for India, the biggest of them all, by Diwali in October,' he said.

 

It was during his visit to India in April that Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the negotiating teams on both sides must work towards a Diwali timeline for the completion of a draft free trade agreement.

 

The teams are now in the midst of the fourth round of FTA talks, with the Commerce Secretary flying in from India for the ongoing negotiations in the UK.

 

'Things are going so well, we are completing chapters so rapidly and making progress on the other chapters yet to be completed,' Indian High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar told reporters at a farewell event organised for the outgoing envoy by the Indian Journalists' Association (IJA) in London on Friday.

 

'The interesting thing which I learnt is that our Ministry of Commerce has opened up so many more areas to the UK, more than the other countries, and I am really happy that is happening. As the envoy of my government in the UK, I would really like to see this to be the best FTA of India with any country because I just feel there are so many complementary strengths... just the fact that we are engaging so intensively is a very good sign,' she said.

 

During a visit to the UK last month, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had also indicated good progress towards the Diwali deadline.

 

'With the UK, we had agreed to do an early harvest agreement - basically, to grab the low-hanging fruits and leave the more difficult elements for the next stage... But the way things are progressing, we'll actually land up doing a full FTA with the UK by Diwali,' he said at the time.

 

The focus of the FTA negotiations is on reducing the barriers to trade, cutting tariffs, and supporting companies to export.

 

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), an FTA with India is expected to nearly double UK exports to India.

 

A trade deal is also expected to boost Britain's total trade by as much as GBP 28 billion a year by 2035 and increase wages across the UK regions by GBP 3 billion, according to industry estimates.

 

'A free trade agreement with the world's fastest growing economy is now within touching distance, and to clinch that deal a focus on lowering barriers to trade is now essential,' said CBI President Lord Karan Bilimoria, who recently launched the UK India Industry Taskforce as a joint commission to increase cross-industry collaboration on the FTA talks.

 

According to the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT), India-UK bilateral trade currently stands at around GBP 24 billion a year.

 

In May last year, Johnson and Modi clinched an enhanced trade partnership with the goal to at least double bilateral trade to GBP 50 billion by 2030.

 

Industry experts hope this figure could be boosted further with the conclusion of the FTA.

The tender sought a nominal 50,000 tonnes but Algeria often buys considerably more in its tenders than the nominal volume sought.

 

The deadline for submission of price offers in the tender is Tuesday, June 21, with offers having to remain valid until Wednesday, June 22. The wheat is sought for shipment in two periods from the main supply regions including Europe: Aug. 1-15 and Aug. 16-31.

In an attempt to promote the export of locally sourced agricultural products tagged with Geographical Indications (GI), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in Bihar has identified six potential products to be registered for a GI tag, officials aware of the matter said on Monday.

 

The Central government, with an aim to promote local products, has been striving to identify new products and new export destinations.

 

The agricultural and other products awaiting GI tagging are Nalanda Bawanbooti saree and fabrics, Gaya Pattharkatti stone craft, Hajipur Banana (Chiniya kela), Gaya Tilkut, Runni Saidpur Balushahi and Udwantnagar Khurma. While the requests for the first three items have been filed, a producers’ organisation formation is under process for the remaining three.

 

According to the GI registry portal, 15 products and logos have the GI tag in Bihar. Some of them are Shahi Litchi, Bhagalpuri Zardalu mango, Katarni rice and Magahi Paan (beetle leave). In December 2021, the famous makhana (fox nut) was granted a GI tag.

 

Geographical Indication (GI) is a kind of intellectual property right that identifies goods originating from a specific geographical location and having a distinct nature, quality and characteristics linked to that location. GI tagging of products in Bihar has helped in brand building, creating local employment, creating a regional brand, generating spin-off effects in tourism, preserving traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions and conserving biodiversity.

 

'NABARD is playing an important role in the GI registration process and post-GI initiatives, including marketing linkages, branding, promotion etc. Till date, NABARD has supported 72 GI products for the registration in various parts of the country. In Bihar, we are helping in producers’ group formation and GI filing of six identified products and for post GI initiatives. This is in line with 'Vocal for Local' and going to help the producers in brand building, better marketing and visibility, boost regional economy and provide employment opportunities to people,' said Dr Sunil Kumar, chief general manager of NABARD’s regional office in Bihar.

 

'Once approved, it is going to benefit more than 2,000 producers involved with these six products,' Kumar said.

 

The move has brought smiles on the faces of 70-odd families involved in Patharkatti, the art of making figurines of Hindu deities and Buddha from marble. 'The GI tagging will help 50-60 artistes who are still carrying the art form since ages in an obsolete Patharkati Gaon, situated 35 km from Gaya,' said Deepak Gaud, an exponent of the art form.

 

Gaud has sculpted a 70-foot tall statue of Lord Buddha at Ghoda Katora in Rajgir and is currently making a 131-foot high statue of Buddha on Bodh-Gaya-Rajgir road. 'During the coronavirus pandemic, most artistes started facing starvation and with little help coming in from the government, many families left for Rajasthan,' said Gaud.

 

A NABARD official said the process of getting a GI tag for Bawanbooti Saree has started. 'Application for a GI tag has been done on May 12. This will give global recognition to the skills of around 250 weavers of Nalanda. They will be able to send their products anywhere. Weavers will get a bigger market after getting a GI tag,' he said.

 

Nepura of Silao and Baswanbigha of Biharsharif are famous for handloom industry. The weavers here prepare Bawanbooti sarees from tussar (a form of silk) and cotton.

The Indian Food Authority, FSSAI, has notified ‘Vegan Regulations’ in the official Gazette of India and asked food business operators (FBOs) involved in such products’ trade to comply.

 

The regulations, along with domestic FBOs, also lay provisions for importers that ‘no vegan food products shall be imported except with a certificate issued by the recognised authorities of the exporting countries in the format as specified by the Authority is accepted’.

 

The notification says that the Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, 2022, shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

 

The regulations define vegan food as ‘the food or food ingredient, including additives, flavourings, enzymes and carriers, or processing aids that are not products of animal origin and in which, at no stage of production and processing, ingredients, including additives, flavourings, enzymes and carriers, or processing aids that are of animal origin have been used.’

 

And the FBOs shall ensure that all stages of production, processing and distribution shall be designed to take the appropriate precautions in conformity with the Good Manufacturing Practices in such a way to avoid the unintended presence of non-vegan substances.

 

Also, after approval , every package of vegan foods is required to carry the logo specified by the FSSAI for vegan food.

Bangladesh's state grain buyer will issue an international tender to import 50,000 tonnes of milling wheat to replenish reserves, an official at the country's grain purchasing agency said on Tuesday.

 

The deadline for submission of price offers is July 5, the official said, adding the tender will be uploaded on its website later on Tuesday.

 

Bangladesh is among importers hit by disruptions to Ukrainian and Russian grain exports and surging prices of wheat and other commodities caused by the conflict between the two countries. GRA/

 

The country's wheat imports suffered again after India imposed a ban on the grain.

 

Price offers in the latest wheat tender are sought on CIF liner out terms. These terms include ship unloading costs for the seller.

 

Shipment is sought 40 days after the date of contract signing. The wheat can be sourced from any worldwide origins except Israel and is sought for shipment to two ports, Chattogram and Mongla.

 

Bangladesh imports around 7 million tonnes of wheat to meet local demand.

Consulate General of Canada Smt. Diedrah Kelly called on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Mantralaya today. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan welcomed Smt. Kelly and presented her a replica of Sanchi Stupa.

 

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the ties between India and Canada are very old and there is mutual cooperation of both the countries in the field of industry. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the relations between India and Canada and two-way cooperation have expanded, Madhya Pradesh will increase its participation. Efforts will be made to work jointly not only in trade, commerce and trade sectors but also in other areas.

 

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh has made progress in the field of natural agriculture. Organic products are being promoted. Along with this, food processing units are also being established. There can also be good investment in automobile, defense, aerospace and pharma sector between Madhya Pradesh and Canada. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that Canada can also cooperate better in skill development and smart city development. Among the possibilities of cooperation between Canada and Madhya Pradesh, the strategy of providing marketing opportunities in Canada to the products of ‘Ek Zila-Ek Utpad’ is also being considered. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan described this visit of Smt. Kelly as a help in realizing the possibilities of growth in trade with Canada. Regarding new investment in Madhya Pradesh, the framework of a separate meeting with Canadian investors is being discussed. Apart from this, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan’s visit to Canada for a road show is also proposed prior to the forthcoming Global Investors Summit in Madhya Pradesh.

 

Smt. Kelly told Chief Minister Chouhan that various Canadian companies are willing to work in Madhya Pradesh. Canada has recently entered into some trade agreements with Asian countries. Such contracts will be extended in India also.

 

Business ties between Madhya Pradesh and Canada

 

Phoenix Mall in Indore is being developed under Phoenix- CPPIB joint venture. The CPPIB is a Canadian Crown Corporation. Canadian auto parts manufacturer Linamar has a manufacturing facility in Dewas. Canadian company LEA Group Holdings Inc. and R.V. Anderson Associates Limited is working together in smart cities of Madhya Pradesh. Last year, Madhya Pradesh exported goods worth US$ 89 million to Canada. Exports from Madhya Pradesh to Canada are from textile, auto parts, engineering products, pharmaceutical and organic chemicals and food processing sectors. Canadian company CPP Investments has committed $115 million to finance an establishment in the state. The Canadian Pension Fund Real Estate and Infrastructure is studying investment possibilities in the financial and renewable energy sectors.

A shipment of 2,400 kg of mixed vegetables was exported from Varanasi to Doha on Friday. This was the first ever shipment of mixed vegetables, exported from Varanasi to Doha.

 

'We do not have direct flights from Varanasi to Doha, the current consignment has been sent via New Delhi. IndiGO Airline has come forward to lift the shipment. We need more Airlines like AirIndia, Air Vistara to come forward for trans-shipment bonds, which will promote agri export trade from Purvanchal region,' said Dr CB Singh, regional in-charge (UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand) of APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority).

 

 

He said that currently, on an average around 3-5 tonnes of mixed vegetables and fruits are being exported daily to the Gulf countries from Varanasi airport. More than 50,000 ton of cereals, fruits and vegetables sourced from the farmers of Purvanchal region have been exported to Nepal, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Australia and Qatar in the last 10 months.

 

He said that currently, APEDA in association with UP Mandi Parishad is setting up a pack house which is mandatory for export at Karkhiyaon which would further boost exports from Purvanchal.

 

According to him, Varanasi, which is the gateway to Purvanchal region consisting of 17 districts, is fast becoming a hub for exports of agricultural and processed food products. The setting up of customs clearance and cold room facilities at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport aided exports from the religious town, which also has linkages to a robust network of Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs).

 

He said that APEDA is regularly making efforts towards promoting Purvanchal as an Agri Export Hub. All necessary coordination and requirements are being compiled by APEDA towards promoting the FPO as an exporter. Exports ensure better price realisation and export opportunities. Infrastructure was virtually absent in eastern Uttar Pradesh earlier.

 

The FPO was instrumental in exporting mangoes, fruits and vegetables to UAE, Bahrain and the United Kingdom.

On the sidelines of the 7th Round of India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal discussed ways to boost trade and investment ties with the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday.

 

Taking to Twitter, Goyal wrote, 'Discussions focussed on exploring ways to enhance bilateral trade & investment giving a further boost to economic ties between the two countries.'

 

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Sunday expressed confidence in India-Bangladesh ties and said that the countries look forward to cooperating in new domains including cyber security and the upgradation of the railway system.

 

Jaishankar also spoke at length on the landmark achievements in the partnership between both nations. Speaking on the trade connection between both the nations, Jaishankar noted, 'Today Bangladesh is our largest development partner, it is our largest trade partner in the region; it is our largest visa operation overseas. And that really underlines every aspect of our cooperation. And we, in turn, are your largest export destination in Asia. I am glad to see that your exports have doubled to USD 2 billion this year.'

 

The EAM also said that India looks forward in boosting bilateral cooperation in new domains. 'So, we now look forward to working with you to take our ties to new domains- Artificial Intelligence, cyber security, startups, Fintech. We were pleased to receive your ICT Minister. We had a very good visit by your Railway Minister recently and I am glad to expand our cooperation on upgradation of our railway system,' Jaishankar noted.

 

Meanwhile, at the India-Bangladesh JCC meeting, AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Affairs Minister of Bangladesh, said that the relationship between both countries is based on mutual trust. FM Momen called India the 'most important neighbor'.

 

'India is the most important neighbor of Bangladesh. Initiatives taken by both nations have helped us achieve stability & development across the region. Bangladesh-India relations are based on mutual trust & respect,' the Bangladeshi FM said.

 

The JCC was held to review the bilateral ties including cooperation in the wake of COVID-19, border management and security, trade and investment, connectivity, energy, water resources, development partnership, and regional and multilateral issues, the MEA said earlier in a statement.

 

This is the first physical meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. The previous meeting was held in 2020 virtually.

India has been able to secure a favourable outcome at the WTO after many years, despite a strong global campaign against our farmers & fishermen, said Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, after conclusion of the WTO 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva today. Terming the just concluded MC12 as an 'outcome oriented' success, Shri Goyal said the Indian delegation, guided constantly by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has been 100 percent successful in portraying before the world the priority issues for India and the developing world.

 

Shri Goyal said the Indian delegation leveraged India’s strong relationship with the world, which the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has nurtured over the last few years.

 

'Few countries attempted to create false campaign, initially on Sunday and Monday, that India is obstinate due to which no progress is being made. The real situation has emerged before us all, the issues raised by India, on which Prime Minister had asked us to focus upon, now the whole world acknowledges that was the correct agenda and ultimately India played a vital role in arriving at all solutions,' Shri Goyal told a press conference in Geneva.

 

Stating that it is a proud day for 135 crore Indians at the WTO today, Shri Goyal said India took the lead and was at the center of the conference. 'It turned the tide of negotiations from full failure, gloom & doom to optimism, enthusiasm and consensus based decision. India’s efforts to bring members on a table to discuss issues irrespective of the existing geopolitical order has ensured that the world order is not broken,' he said.

 

Admitting that India and the Developing countries accepted certain compromising decisions when the WTO was established 30 years ago and during the Uruguay Round of negotiations, Shri Goyal said India today bats on the front foot rather than being fearful on various issues be it Environment, Startups, MSMEs or gender equality. This is a result of the confidence of New India. India is able to build consensus & get a Win-Win outcome for the world, he said.

 

 'Today as we return India there is no issue on which we have to be the least concerned, whether it is related to Agriculture such as MSP, reinforcing the relevance of the Public Stockholding Programme towards fulfilling the National Food Safety Programme or PM Garib Kalyan Scheme, TRIPS Waiver, e-Commerce moratorium, response to covid and fisheries,' said Shri Goyal, adding, 'Similarly there have been no restrictions on fishing that our fishermen were deeply concerned about, that would bind artisanal and traditional fishermen of India in the future. India has been cent percent successful; no restrictions or terms have been placed on India or the Government, rather we have been successful in introducing checks on illegal fishing, under-reporting or outside regulation, viz IUU fishing.'

 

Shri Goyal said India remains committed to supporting the World Food Programme (WFP). Citing India’s recent wheat supplies to Afghanistan, he said the Government has imposed no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries; however, domestic food security takes priority.

 

On the global fight against the Covid19, Shri Goyal said the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) decision will boost vaccine equity, accessibility & affordability. It will enable ease of authorisation for production of patented vaccines and India can produce for domestic requirements and exports.

 

On the WTO Reforms agenda, Shri Goyal said the basic structure and core principles of WTO including Consensus, S&DT provisions, SDG goals, will be retained while making it more contemporary. 'I believe it will be good for the WTO, and will be good for the Developing and Under-Developed countries in the future and foster global trade through transparent means,' he said.

 

Shri Goyal said India’s motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ echoes in the WTO, India not only raised its issues but raised the issues of other developing countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), poor & vulnerable with sensitivity and fought bravely for their cause.

 

 

Outcomes at the WTO MC 12 Meeting

 

On fisheries, there would be a check on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters and elsewhere. There would be very strict controls on overfished areas so that fish stocks are restored. Additionally, no subsidies to be provided for fishing in areas outside EEZ or RFMOs

 

The TRIPS decision will boost export, vaccine equity, accessibility & affordability. A country can authorize production of vaccines patented elsewhere and there would be no consent required as well as there would be no limit on exports. A decision on Diagnostics/Therapeutics would be taken in 6 months. There would be faster pandemic response in future and there would be fewer trade barriers in pandemics

 

The agenda decided on WTO reforms will make the WTO a more efficient, agile body. The dispute settlement body will be revived and play its expected role in settling trade disputes. The reform would deliver better trade outcomes for developing countries. A reference to Gender, Environment & MSME has been made in the WTO reform agenda.

 

On e-Commerce, while agreeing to the temporary moratorium, India asked for intensifying discussions on the moratorium including on its scope, definition and impact for taking an informed decision on the same.

 

The Food Security Declaration, focusses on making food available in developing countries while working towards increasing productivity and production

 

As regards, the World Food Programme (WFP), there would be no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries; However, domestic food security will take priority.