Developing nations need to ensure growth reaches women, MSMEs: WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang
Geneva: WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang said developing countries need to think about development from a broader perspective and look at inclusiveness to encourage small businesses and women empowerment.
At the ongoing WTO Public Forum in Geneva on Wednesday, he said development goes beyond special and differential treatment (S&DT). S&DT allows developing and poor countries benefits such as taking longer time to implement agreements and binding commitments.
Emphasising that S&DT is a core principle of the WTO, he said it is required because of asymmetries in capabilities and knowledge among countries and that «discussions on specific S&DT provisions in WTO agreements are continuing in the house».
«Meanwhile, development goes beyond S&DT.
Developing countries need to think about development from a broader perspective to embrace new opportunities and also pay attention to inclusiveness,» Zhang said.
Inclusiveness in terms of encouraging small businesses and women's empowerment, he said. The statement assumes significance as the preservation of S&DT in WTO reforms is a key demand of developing countries, including India.
Security clauses
As per Geneva-based trade officials, there is a need to define and narrow down the scope of security concerns as a means to block trade.
