'Securing livelihood of farmers in developing countries key for success of Doha Round'

New Delhi, Aug 12 : Minister of Commerce and Industry kamal Nath today said that securing livelihood concerns of small and marginal farmers in developing countries is key for successful conclusion of the Doha Round.

Small farmers in developing countries who live between one and two dollars a day are in need of greater protection than millionaire farmers in developed countries, according to Nath.

Addressing a meeting of Industry Captains with the WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy here today, Nath assured that interests of Indian industry especially infant and labour intensive sectors would be protected at any cost.

Expressing hope that the multilateral trade talks would reach a fruitful end, the Commerce Minister said that "while there was enough on the table, there was nothing in my (India's) plate and it was certainly not sufficient for everyone."

Nath urged the WTO chief to play a proactive role, protecting the interests of the developing world, in the trade talks.

He requested WTO Chief to convey India's concerns to US, during his visit to Washington later this month.

Lamy said that the Doha Round talks could succeed if all parties reached suitable "political understanding on the issues".

He was optimistic that there was "still a possibility to conclude the trade negotiations by end-2008."

Lamy said he was convinced that the economic interests and development needs of the developing countries lay at the heart of the trade talks. "It is equally important to ensure a balanced outcome that meets the aspirations of all WTO members," he added.

ANI