40 WTO members meet at Marrakesh

As many as 40 WTO members, including India, met in Morocco today to discuss issues related with the forthcoming ministerial conference in Argentina.
Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu in a tweet said he participated in the WTO's mini-ministerial meeting.
Select 40 WTO member countries attended the meeting, which was a run up towards the 11th ministerial conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina in December.
"Trying hard to ensure multilateral WTO remain intact, despite huge pressures. Having several bilaterals with all important countries. Very sure, we shall benefit immensely from participation of these countries with India's economy," the minister said in his tweets.

He also held a bilateral discussion with WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo.
The ministerial conference is the highest decision-making body of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO).

India is pitching hard to complete the pending agenda, which includes finding a permanent solution to the issue of food stockpiling.
The country also wants the WTO members to deliberate on its proposal on trade facilitation in services.
However, developed countries, including the US, are pushing for inclusion of newer issues like investment facilitation and e-commerce in the agenda.