Union Minister Piyush Goyal at the G33 ministerial meeting in Geneva.
Highlight
- Piyush Goyal holds meeting with counterparts at World Trade Organisation, G33 meeting in Geneva
- Union Minister raised the issue of stockholding for food security
- Piyush Goyal said, India will not bow down to pressure and can face any pressure
G33 Meeting: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Sunday met Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, on the sidelines of the 12th WTO Ministerial Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Resolving public stockholding for food security.
Piyush Goyal also interacted with counterparts from developing and less developed countries including US, South African Trade Minister Ibrahim Patel in Geneva.
Taking to Twitter, Piyush Goyal said, “Fighting for the rights of our farmers within an hour of landing at the WTO, Geneva at the G33 Ministerial Meeting. Possibilities of a permanent solution to public stockholding for food security with DG @NOIweala and my counterparts from developing and least developed countries.”
“It is India’s endeavor to work for a positive and equitable outcome of the MC12 negotiations. He conveyed our hope that the forum will address India’s concerns on issues affecting the weaker sections of the society,” he said.
“Nobody can put pressure on today’s ‘self-reliant India’. We can face any challenge. We don’t take any decision under pressure,” the Union minister said.
“We made our stand keeping in mind the fundamental principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. We raised the concerns of developing and underdeveloped countries,” Goyal said.
“It is clear that there are two items mainly … this time … Public Stock Holding and the Special Protection Mechanism … I think it is unfortunate that in his (DG) brief remarks … he made a decision. which was made thrice only as an announcement and I would urge the Speaker to state that it was not a declaration but a decision which was made in 2013, 2015 and 2018 that we are here to discuss. Sitting for…,” Piyush Goyal said.
The Union Minister further said, “India has had an experience… from a food deficit country to a largely self-sufficient food nation. Subsidies and other government interventions played a very important role in achieving this. We must all work collectively… towards a permanent solution.
Piyush Goyal also raised the issue of some countries not helping less developed countries during Kovid-19.
Piyush Goyal said in Geneva, “Sad to see that some countries did not help less developed or developing countries (during #COVID19). These countries should bow their heads in shame for their behaviour.”
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