At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) trade ministers’ meeting in Vladivostok, India underscored the need to diversify and de-risk global supply and production chains through geographical spread, interoperable logistics, predictable market access, and enhanced connectivity.
Representing India, Amitabh Kumar, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, reaffirmed support for an open, fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. He pressed for a development-centred agenda, including a permanent solution on Public Stockholding (PSH) for food security and effective Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) for developing countries.
India also highlighted the role of services trade, especially the temporary movement of skilled professionals, to bolster economic growth and enable greater participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in global value chains.
Cautioning against the misuse of export-related measures, New Delhi stressed that such actions should not be weaponised to create scarcity, distort markets, or disrupt supply chains. On the digital economy, India proposed SCO-led workstreams to promote fair and predictable regulatory frameworks, voluntary cooperation on best practices, and capacity building for secure, innovation-driven growth.
With the SCO representing 42% of the world’s population and 17.2% of global trade, India called for coordinated action to boost trade flows, address vulnerabilities, and drive inclusive growth. It also spotlighted the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sector as a key driver of jobs, exports, and innovation.