Anand Sharma meets WTO chief in Davos, discusses post-Bali progress

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma met the Director General of the World Trade Organization (DG WTO), Roberto Azevedo, here on Friday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting.

Congratulating Azevedo for his leadership and inclusive approach, leading to a very successful outcome of the Bali Ministerial Conference, Sharma said: "We worked together, were flexible where required and demonstrated the willingness to work for the greater good of the multilateral trading system."

An official ministry release said both leaders took stock of the progress of the post-Bali programme of WTO negotiations.

"We must capitalise on the momentum gained in Bali and push ahead with the work programmes that we agreed to establish on the Doha Development Agenda and food security," said Sharma.

Azevedo is coming to India next week to address session on trade, along with Sharma, in the upcoming partnership summit at Beguluru.

He will also have substantive discussions with Sharma and senior officials in Bengaluru.