Dastgir asks institutions to focus on interests of developing states. PHOTO: FILE
He said this at a roundtable discussion on “E-commerce for Development” and the general session at the 14th meeting of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dastgir appreciated the E-trade-for-all initiative of UNCTAD and said it would provide ample opportunities to the developing nations to catch up with the nations that were reaping dividends from the widespread use of e-commerce.
The minister noted that the initiative would help developing countries in seven policy areas including e-commerce assessment, information and communication technology infrastructure, payments, trade logistics, legal and regulatory frameworks, skill development and financing for e-commerce.
He mentioned that policymakers in international institutions should focus more on areas of interest for the developing countries such as volatile commodity prices, debt issues, working of ratings agencies and access to technologies on a fair basis.
The minister emphasised that the consensus-building role of UNCTAD should be revitalised.
“A polarised environment in multilateral negotiating coupled with rapid economic and technological changes is making it increasingly difficult to arrive at broad-based agreements.”
UNCTAD could provide a forum where the ground could be prepared for concluding such agreements, Dastgir added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2016.
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