Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the multilateral trading system must ensure fair sharing of innovation and development among member states, reiterating India’s commitment to constructive engagement at the 14th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference.
In a post on X during a conference in Yaounde, Goyal said: “The multilateral trading system must ensure that innovation, development and opportunities are shared fairly among members.” He added that India remains committed to strengthening global trade cooperation and said, “India is committed to engage constructively so that the WTO remains at the center of global trade.”
On the sidelines of the conference, Goyal also held several bilateral meetings with foreign ministers and trade officials to discuss economic cooperation.
Goyal met Maninder Sidhu of Canada and discussed the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries. “Met Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Mr. Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of #WTOMC14. They exchanged views on the MC14 agenda, reviewed progress on the recently launched India-Canada CEPA negotiations, and explored ways to further strengthen our bilateral trade and economic cooperation,” he wrote on X.
He also met Kamina Johnson Smith from Jamaica and discussed the conference agenda. “I met Ms. Kamina Johnson Smith, Senator and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, as part of an engagement at #WTOMC14 and we discussed key elements of the MC14 agenda,” Goyal wrote.
In another meeting, Goyal interacted with Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble. He said: “Met Mr. Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and exchanged views on the #WTOMC14 agenda.”
Goyal also met Omar Hejira of Morocco to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation. “I met Mr. Omar Hejira, Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry and Trade, in charge of Foreign Trade, Kingdom of Morocco, on the sidelines of #WTOMC14. He reaffirmed our historic partnership and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation,” he said.
He also held talks with Pankaj Khimji of Oman on bilateral trade ties. “Met Mr. Pankaj Khimji, Adviser, Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment Promotion, Oman. We discussed the #WTOMC14 agenda, reviewed the progress of operation of the recently signed India-Omani CEPA and explored opportunities to further deepen trade and economic cooperation,” Goyal said.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, where member countries discuss key issues related to global trade, cooperation and the future of the multilateral trading system. (OR)
