By Nayanima Basu
IANS
New Delhi : India and Brazil must work closer in ensuring that the developing world is able push its demands at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), especially in ensuring that rich nations cut their farm subsidies, the chief of a leading Indo-Brazilian industry lobby has said.
"The two countries are doing a great job in pushing for the issues of developing countries like reducing farm subsidies to help eradicate poverty," said Roberto Paranhos do RioBranco, president of the India Brazil Chamber of Commerce.
"I wish India and Brazil get more closer at the WTO negotiations," RioBranco, here as part of the business delegation accompanying Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, told IANS in an interview.
"Many people thought the Doha Round was dead when it failed to reach a common consensus. But the fact that it is alive, means we have to reach somewhere," he said, adding that Indian and Brazilian governments hoped for a major breakthrough.
The talks that started under the aegis of the WTO began in Doha, Qatar, in 2001 and hit a roadblock last July after its 150 members failed to reach a consensus, largely on domestic support and market access in agriculture.
Paranhos, part of the 52-member business delegation from sectors like banking, energy, leather, IT and logistics, said a lot of potential existed for boosting trade and investment ties between India and Brazil.
"India has a lot of opportunities in infrastructure sector and there are several Brazilian private firms that are willing to come forward and help by investing."
The two countries have also signed seven pacts in areas ranging from education, infrastructure and energy, launched a CEOs' forum to push bilateral investment and set a two-way trade target of $10 billion by 2010, he said.
"We have good roads connecting every part of our country. We can offer expertise to India on how to build good roads. We are also willing to offer our technical know-how on waste treatment," Paranhos said.
He said both governments should come forward now more than ever in their efforts to effectively uplift the millions of poor in their respective countries so that they, too, are beneficiaries of the growth stories.
Paranhos also called for direct flight service between Brazil and India so that the corporate sectors of the two sides have better access to the markets.