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Developed nations responsible: Jairam
SOME DEVELOPED nations were responsible for stalemate in WTO?s Doha round of talks and there has been no progress on that front since then, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said.
World Trade Organisation’s Doha stalemate
SOME DEVELOPED nations were responsible for stalemate in WTO’s Doha round of talks and there has been no progress on that front since then, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said.
“Some developed countries like United States, Europe and Japan are responsible for this deadlock at WTO’s talks in Doha”, the Minister said at a Press conference here on Friday. “India was in no way going to become signatory of WTO’s agriculture sector till these countries reduce subsidy on agriculture,” he added.
He stated that double the amount of subsidy, India gives to Agriculture sector was given by these countries on cows alone. “In such a scenario, India’s main concern was to protect the interests of our farmers,” he stated.
Commenting on the state of affairs of the weaving community of Varanasi, the minister advised them to focus on product and fabric diversification as use of silk in manufacturing of traditional Banarasi saree had no future.
He said the Central government had released Rs 4 crore for promotion and marketing of ‘Made in India’ brand abroad. The amount, he said, was for the first year.
“The import duty of 43 per cent on yarn and 28 per cent on fabric was not right,” he said and assured that he would try to mitigate sufferings of the exporters of this region.
The Union Minister said if the State government had concern for the weaving community, it should better have allowed setting up NIFD in Varanasi rather than taking it elsewhere in the State.
He said as part of its efforts to enhance foreign trade, an international marketing fair was being organised in Varanasi from October 14 to 16 in which leading buyers from within and outside India were scheduled to participate.
He said big three buyers including Pantaloon and Fab India have landed in Varanasi for purchase of fabric. “They are working on it,” he added.
Commenting on the UPA government’s steps to enhance the export from Uttar Pradesh, the minister said that the Central government has launched many centrally sponsored schemes like Weavers’ Cluster Development scheme for the welfare of the weavers.
However, he took potshots at the State government for poor infrastructure in the State saying the government which has failed to provide uninterrupted power supply to the people has adversely affected the exporters also.
