India Protected Interests of Farmers, Fishermen at WTO Meet

India has fully protected the interests of farmers and fishermen at a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in Geneva, Trade and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday.

Goyal, who led India's delegation to the WTO talks, also said the decisions made at the conference further strengthened the role of multilateral institutions in promoting world trade, with India being a developing and developing country. 

Members of the Geneva-based WTO secured the "Geneva Package" on June 17th. This included a deal to curb harmful fishery subsidies and a temporary waiver of patents to produce the COVID-19 vaccine.

The WTO develops rules on global imports and exports and determines disputes between two or more countries. According to that rule, all decisions are made by consensus and a single member state can reject the decision.

Regarding the Pragati Maidan Integrated Transport Corridor Project, Goyal said it would help ease traffic in Bhairon Marg, near the India Gate.

He said the tunnel is part of Pragati Maidan's ITPO site redevelopment plan and this state-of-the-art convention and exhibition center is ready in time for India's presidency of the G20 Summit in December next year.