New Delhi, Dec.1 (ANI): Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who is leading a 30 member delegation for the Bali ministerial meeting of WTO next week, has dropped hints that India will be persuasive and constructive, yet firm on the core agenda of food security.
It is reliably learnt that Sharma is likely to convey to his interlocutors that India's concerns on food security are non negotiable, and he is likely to raise the issue of subsistence farmers of India strongly in the G-33 meeting being convened tomorrow ahead of the ministerial meeting.
He will underscore the fact that the Bali ministerial must have a fair and balanced outcome, which addresses the concerns of developing countries adequately, especially on food security.
India's public stockholding program, for public distribution system cannot be compromised for minor gains of the developed countries.
Sharma is likely to highlight India's commitment for the Least Developed Countries (LDC) agenda, where India has taken a unilateral decision for zero duty access covering 96.2 percent of tariff lines.
India will demonstrate a constructive engagement, as it has unequivocally endorsed three out of the five issues under consideration- LDC issues, tariff rate quota and export competition.
It is learnt that Sharma will pitch for a balanced outcome, which addresses India's food security concerns, and not just an outcome which addresses the interests of the strong exporting economies of the developed world.
Sharma's stance is likely to face strong head winds in Bali with the developed countries likely to oppose the lasting agreement on food security, sources said. (ANI)
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