New Delhi – The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that India will serve as chair of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) ninth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection, scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, later this year. The appointment positions India to lead discussions on global consumer‑rights standards, digital market regulation and cross‑border trade safeguards.
The IGE, a UNCTAD‑mandated body, brings together representatives from member states to formulate policy recommendations and guidance for consumer protection frameworks. India’s role as chair will involve setting the agenda, facilitating negotiations among the 30‑plus participating governments, and steering the group’s final report to the UNCTAD Conference of Parties.
India’s selection follows a recent push by the government to elevate its profile in multilateral trade and consumer‑protection fora. In a statement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the country’s “robust domestic consumer‑protection regime” and its experience in digital commerce as assets for guiding the IGE’s work. The ministry also noted that India will host a series of preparatory webinars to engage developing economies on emerging challenges such as online fraud, data privacy and product safety.
Analysis:
India’s chairmanship comes at a time when consumer‑protection issues are increasingly linked to technology, cross‑border e‑commerce and supply‑chain transparency. By leading the IGE, New Delhi can influence the development of international norms that align with its own regulatory reforms, including the recent Consumer Protection (E‑Commerce) Rules and data‑localisation policies. The role also offers diplomatic leverage, allowing India to showcase its commitment to consumer rights while counterbalancing the influence of traditional powers in shaping UNCTAD’s agenda. Observers note that the position could bolster India’s broader strategy to project itself as a leader among developing nations in global trade governance.
Sources
– “India to chair UNCTAD’s 9th session of Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection in Switzerland.” Google News India, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1gFBVV95cUxPZEVobXVoYU9jQ0I1aVphZkkwZWdZMEl6Zl95MHdjSjQ1Y2d3a0I3UjBQR2VsN25mWHNTRUtTUnlDSTdfb0R4NW5mbXZTTS01eGxUTWh2eEhMNUVabEs5V0tOaHFiYkNWbmVOTHVYdUxRNVRJeHpabWVJa1NqTXhwMXZJaWtIRl9oaXplaFRUWEZIR0FvOUYtSTlKcTJYdThETDBRMDdTbWtYN2NTQWRJWmJEa3BjNXdKa1MzY280UkhjYTlzWjJaOW1lMjZvbklqeTh1d1FR?oc=5.
Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India — source
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