To obtain consensus on key topics, the WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi was prolonged by one day

The 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Abu Dhabi has been postponed to Friday, March 1, in order to allow for further debate and to promote resolutions on the major concerns.

The WTO said in a statement that the decision was made after discussions between Minister Facilitators and MC13 Chair Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, as well as WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The original plan was for the 13th Ministerial Conference to end at 8 p.m. (local time) on February 28.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged members to go above and beyond in order to reach consensus on the numerous talks at the ministerial conference, which led to the decision to extend.
“DG Okonjo-Iweala called on members to go above and beyond to find convergence on the various negotiations at the ministerial gathering and to be mindful that time is running out to conclude meaningful agreements,” the WTO said in a statement after the meeting of Heads of Delegation (HoDs) on February 28.

The globe Trade Organization (WTO) summit, which got underway on February 26, brought together ministers and delegates from all around the globe to talk about and debate international trade regulations.

Founded almost thirty years ago, the World Trade Organization (WTO) now includes 166 member nations, including India. The WTO has welcomed Timor-Leste and Comoros as new members this year. June 12–17, 2022, saw the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) take place in Geneva, Switzerland.

India emphasized at the WTO’s 13th ministerial meeting that all policy choices should be open to WTO members for the purpose of advancing digital industrialization.

India emphasized in a news release issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that the global e-commerce scene is now dominated by a small number of developed-world companies.India clarified that there is a significant digital divide between developed and developing nations, which makes it difficult to boost the involvement of developing nations in international e-commerce.

India reaffirmed that a re-examination of the implications of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions was necessary, particularly for the developing countries and the LDCs, given the ongoing digital revolution and the growing diffusion of technologies like artificial intelligence, 3D printing, data analytics, and the Internet of Things.
According to India, developing nations should prioritize strengthening their own digital and physical infrastructure, establishing frameworks for supporting laws and regulations, and advancing their digital capacities.

India’s unwavering faith in innovation and its dedication to swift execution are the driving forces behind its own digital revolution.India is encouraging innovation, democratizing technology, and creating a competitive environment for digital firms using the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) concept.

A nationwide technological revolution has been sparked by DPI in a number of sectors, including e-governance, payments, healthcare, credit, and commerce. India’s own experience demonstrates how fast, population-scale digitization has been fueled by a comprehensive focus on digital infrastructure, skills, education, and enabling legislation.