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Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
WTO must protect African interests: CUTS International dialogue
The WTO is a critical multilateral rules-based forum to promote and protect the trade interests of all countries, especially the African low-income countries, in the world, and it must be revitalised at all costs, said Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International . CUTS convened a high-level informal dialogue with African Ambassadors to the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the Palais des Nations, Geneva on 9th July. Mehta, an NGO Adviser to the DG, WTO, chaired the meeting. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Degree Leadership MBA Finance MCA Data Analytics Technology Public Policy Healthcare Product Management PGDM Data Science Project Management Data Science Design Thinking others Others healthcare CXO Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Digital Marketing Management Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details The closed-door session focused on reforms to the multilateral trading system, the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA ), Africa's strategic role within the G20, and preparations for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) to be hosted in Cameroon in March, 2026. The deliberations captured the continent's resolve to navigate a complex geopolitical environment and assert its developmental priorities on the world stage. Multilateral Trading System in a Fractured World A recurrent theme was the increasing fragility of the multilateral trading order. Participants expressed deep concern over the rising trend of economic unilateralism, particularly the imposition of arbitrary tariffs by dominant global actors. This threatens to further fragment global trade by pushing countries—especially vulnerable African states—into precarious bilateral deals that are often skewed against their interests. The erosion of predictability and stability in the WTO system, largely due to the disengagement of some major economies, was viewed as a direct threat to investment flows and long-term development planning. Participants were unequivocal in their call for a revitalized, rules-based multilateral system—one that does not hinge on the whims of any single power. Yet, there was caution against retaliation. The disengagement of any single country should not dictate the future of the trading system. Instead, African countries were urged to champion reforms that democratize decision-making and prioritize inclusivity and development. AfCFTA: From Aspiration to Implementation The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) featured prominently throughout the session. Several interventions emphasized that the agreement must move beyond high-level policy to tangible, ground-level impact—particularly for small businesses, women, and youth. There was strong consensus that the private sector must be placed at the heart of AfCFTA's implementation strategy. Ongoing initiatives, including national training workshops, online capacity-building platforms, and the establishment of a private sector facilitation framework, were cited as promising steps. The critical challenge now is ensuring that these tools translate into real trade opportunities. The connectivity deficits—both digital and physical—were seen as major bottlenecks that require urgent investment and regulatory coordination. Moreover, participants highlighted that AfCFTA must cohere with regional economic community frameworks to avoid duplication and disintegration. Investment Facilitation and Economic Sovereignty There was unanimous agreement that Africa's development hinges on attracting sustainable and strategic investment. The WTO's Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement was viewed by many as a pragmatic entry point—though concerns about legal integration and sovereign space were noted. It was emphasized that investment and services policies must be approached as two sides of the same coin. With two-thirds of global FDI flowing into services, African governments were encouraged to align regulatory environments accordingly, especially in sectors like telecommunications, logistics, and agri-processing. The call to attract investment reflected an urgent development imperative amid declining aid and mounting public finance constraints. A Critical Opportunity for Africa The upcoming MC14, to be hosted in Cameroon, was framed as a historic moment for the continent. With agriculture, food security, and WTO reform on the agenda, African countries must arrive at the conference with a unified, actionable agenda. Particular emphasis was placed on securing outcomes on public stockholding, special safeguard mechanisms, and industrial policy flexibility. Participants urged that MC14 must not only acknowledge Africa's unique developmental needs but also advance them through concrete institutional reforms—especially around the Dispute Settlement Mechanism and Special & Differential Treatment. Leveraging the G20: From Presence to Influence While the African Union's recent admission to the G20 was applauded, it was made clear that mere presence does not guarantee influence. Effective participation requires preparation, coordination, and an unwavering commitment to championing the continent's priorities—particularly in digital trade, infrastructure, and MSME development. Some voices were sceptical of the G20's utility, citing its historical disconnect from WTO deliberations. Others, however, emphasized the opportunity for Africa to engage proactively—especially with the AU now at the table. The upcoming G20 summits hosted by South Africa and potentially the US were viewed as tests of whether Africa can shape the global trade narrative rather than merely respond to it. The meeting closed with a stark yet empowering message: Africa must stop waiting for others to define the system. The continent's strength lies in forging coalitions, acting decisively, and learning by doing. The rules-based system must be preserved—not in spite of the challenges, but because of them. Indeed, the most thought-provoking insight may have been the call to stop treating the United States' disinterest as a veto on multilateral progress. The session was attended, among others, by Jeremiah Mangewa (South Africa), Amb. Brian Glover (Mauritius), Hamid Mamdouh (Senior Counsel), Rajesh Aggarwal (Visiting Professor, ICRIER), Amb. Urujeni Bakuramutsa (Rwanda), Lily Sommers (ITC), Ms. Mpho Michelle Mogobe (Botswana), M. Thomas Ndongo (Cameroon), Mr. Pradeep S. Mehta (Secretary General, CUTS International), Suddha Chakravartti (Director, CUTS International Geneva), Peter Maundu (Research Associate of CUTS), and Mritunjai Kapila (Ontern).
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Envisioning Viksit Bharat
India must build more infrastructure and we must build it in the public sector and must do more research in both industry and agriculture. India must focus on delivery of public goods, which actually means health and education and must also look at the East for expanding our trade, for which we need to enter into RTAs like CPTPP, said Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia at the opening of CUTS International's final round-table on 'India 2047: Future Scenarios', held last week in New Delhi. Dr Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission praised CUTS International for providing the draft research papers which would form the basis of the roundtables since October 2024. He emphasised that today's intensive debate would crystallise a clear and actionable roadmap to India's centenary year. In his keynote remarks, Dr Ahluwalia challenged participants to sharpen India's industrial and innovation policy, questioning whether existing incentives such as the Production-Linked Incentive scheme sufficiently foster private R&D investment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hoe exotische lingerie je zelfbeeld versterkt: Tips en inzichten FindingFrenzy Meer lezen Undo He underscored the fiscal implications of an enlarged regulatory state and advocated granting greater policy flexibility to States, so that regional disparities might be addressed through context-specific solutions. The discussion was moderated by Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary-General of CUTS International, and a noted public policy advocate. Live Events Mehta said that each of the three meetings had both high level and middle level participation to capture both experience and aspirations. He observed that today's world is neither comfortably unipolar nor reliably multipolar, but rather defined by a 'polycrisis' of climate and biodiversity emergencies, geopolitical rivalries and shifting alliances. He warned that weak funding for climate action—exacerbated by major powers' retreat from accords—threatens future generations, even as human adaptability offers some hope. India's pursuit of strategic autonomy faces real-world tests in a fraught neighbourhood. This is with reference to the recent conflict with Pakistan and China's support to it. Furthermore, China's growing influence in Bangladesh, underscores the need for robust defence capabilities and smart foreign-policy responses. Mehta noted that, unlike an insurable risk, these systemic challenges demand responsive policies to safeguard India's interests and that the aim of the round-table's scenarios paper is to provide a practical guideline for government action, building on insights from this exercise. In his presentation, the architect of the draft paper, Abhishek Kumar, Partner, INDICC and Adviser, CUTS International, said that he enjoyed working on the paper. 'We must approach scenario planning from a perspective of understanding other countries and how they are structured economically, security-wise and what kind of alliances they are looking for,' said Kumar. He added that there is an absence of literature in this regard. Highlighting the long-term realignment of global democracies, Raghavan Srinivasan, former Editor of the Hindu Businessline warned that rising populist pressures—and not merely the policies of any one administration—are reshaping political institutions in the US, EU and beyond. He urged Indian foresight exercises to treat such shifts as structural trends rather than transient phenomena. Kiran Karnik, former president of NASSCOM, called for a radical expansion of democratic decentralisation, proposing a 'three-tier' model that empowers municipal corporations and rural panchayats alongside state governments. Karnik cautioned against overly broad localisation of value chains and instead recommended that India concentrate technological efforts on critical sectors guided by 'Bhabha–Sarabhai' principles, ensuring that innovation addresses real-world needs. Arpita Mukherjee, Professor at ICRIER, showcased recent Gulf–India digital-agri trade experiments, noting that India's agricultural surplus provides significant bargaining power. She pressed for a unified national policy on genetically modified crops to prevent farmer confusion and advocated India's accession to regional frameworks—such as the ESCAP CPTA—to streamline paperless cross-border trade. Bipul Chattopadhyay, Executive Director of CUTS International, stressed that policy durability must replace ad-hoc subsidies prone to misuse. He argued for an accelerated push towards asset monetisation and well-designed privatisation, warning that overly socialist inclinations could stifle the private sector's capacity to drive structural transformation. Harinder Sekhon, Distinguished Fellow of CUTS International, drew attention to a critical skills shortage, emphasising that India's future competitiveness hinges on systematic upskilling in AI, robotics and clean-energy technologies. He called for national-scale vocational and digital literacy programmes to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change. Dipankar de Sarkar, a senior journalist, urged India to leverage Official Development Assistance as a soft-power tool, to fill in the gaps left by rich countries in Africa and Latin America. He noted that India's share of global development assistance has historically been low. He proposed higher ODA budgets to enhance India's influence and partnerships in the Global South. Professor Amita Batra of JNU analysed South Asia's persistent integration gaps and China's seamless ties with Southeast Asia. She recommended calibrated tariff reductions, interim free-trade agreements and selective calibration with major partners, enabling India to signal a commitment to open markets while retaining negotiating leverage. Former Finance Secretary of India, Ashok Lavasa, reminded the audience that governance quality at both national and sub-national levels determines policy success. He urged capacity-building in district administrations and for a renewed focus on urban infrastructure and service delivery as India's cities expand at unprecedented rates. Pranav Kumar, Chief of International Trade Policy Division at Reliance Industries, traced India's trajectory from RCEP negotiations to a new 'FTA 2.0' paradigm. He argued that industry stakeholders must be central to trade talks and that India should support the WTO as it inter alia offers Special & Differential Treatment provisions which are very critical for poor countries. Kumar also advocated that India should pursue plurilateral accords that reflect 'variable geometry' among willing partners, so that the WTO moves forward rather than just languish. Mehta intervened to say that the US has blocked progress in the WTO by holding to ransom the dispute settlement system without assigning any sound reasoning. If needed, the WTO should carry on without the membership of the USA. Lieutenant General Arvinder Singh Lamba highlighted the indispensable link between economic strength and defence self-reliance. He called for an expanded indigenous defence-industrial base and greater investment in space and surveillance capabilities, noting that modern warfare demands comprehensive situational awareness. Ajay Shankar, a prominent former civil servant, cautioned that India's demographic dividend could become a liability without rapid job creation and environmental safeguards. He critiqued the PLI scheme as favouring select firms and urged new policy instruments to harness India's massive domestic market in sectors prone to automation. Amar Patnaik, former Member of Parliament, warned of 'heat-oven' states driving climate-induced migration, stressing that comprehensive adaptation—spanning resilient infrastructure, drought-tolerant crops, and adaptive health systems—must be mainstreamed into all development planning. Shailesh K. Pathak, former civil servant and private sector employee, called for reform of constitutional provisions that constrain urban governance, arguing for greater municipal autonomy to tackle service-delivery inefficiencies. He suggested an amendment in the Constitution to allow Mayors to contest for further terms so that there is a continuity and concrete progress. This is somewhat similar to Chief Ministers who are able to continue in government for more that one term and thus achieve good progress. He also flagged the rise of 'contactless' modes of warfare—cyber, drone and space operations—as critical frontiers for India's security strategy. Nitya Nanda, Director of the Council for Social Development, noted the divergence between 'business-friendly' and 'market-friendly' policies at the state level, and urged finely calibrated incentives to align sub-national interests with national priorities, particularly in technology and infrastructure investments. Ajit Pai, Strategy Lead Partner at EY India, emphasised the need for strategic concentration in high-impact sectors, advocating selective resource allocation and robust urbanisation policies to unlock city-driven growth. Aradhna Aggarwal, Senior Adviser to the NCAER, concluded that the final scenarios paper must serve as a flexible guideline rather than a rigid manifesto. Mehta proposed a competitive-cum-cooperative federalism model—perhaps through a Chief Ministers' Governance Forum—to foster inter-state learning and collaboration. He stressed on the fact that the country cannot be governed effectively through just the union government but each state and union territory must implement policies at the local level. One critical area at the bottom is the building of human capital, which involves healthcare, education, and skills. Mehta further observed that strategic ambiguity in global affairs demands a balanced, institution-building approach at home. He reaffirmed that the report—enriched by today's comprehensive debate—will be presented to Governments at the centre and the states and hopefully will stir a national debate on India's roadmap to its centenary.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Track 1.5 and 2.0 Dialogues way forward to South Asia's Prosperity: Experts
South Asia grapples with historical tensions and modern rivalries, hindering regional cooperation on shared challenges like climate change and trade. India's evolving military posture and Sri Lanka's geostrategic importance were highlighted. Experts emphasized the need for deeper engagement from the EU and the importance of mutual respect for security and sovereignty to foster progress. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads South Asia is a vibrant yet volatile region, where historical ties and modern rivalries collide—amplified by global power plays, said Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International in his opening a session titled Perpetual Conundrums in South Asia, Mehta emphasised the need for regional cooperation to tackle shared challenges, from climate change to trade to the recent India-Pakistan conflict, Lt Gen Subrata Saha (Retd.), former Member National Security Advisory Board of India, highlighted India's shifting military posture, noting its response to cross-border terrorism. 'From surgical strikes post-Uri to deeper incursions after Pulwama, India's suppression of Pakistani air defences and subsequent ceasefire requests marked a turning point in deterrence.'Former Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka, Amb. Prasad Kariyawasam, underscored the geostrategic importance of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. 'Ninety percent of global trade is seaborne. A stable Indian Ocean is vital for Sri Lanka's economic security, and there's strong bipartisan support for deeper ties with India,' he Tariq Ahmad Karim, Advisor, Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies, Independent University, Bangladesh and former Bangladesh envoy to India reflected on the region's challenges, stating, 'South Asia's inability to cooperate stems from a failure to learn from shared history. Geography ensures we can't escape each other, yet we remain stuck in the past'.Discussing the role of other countries and regions, especially the US in this region, Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada remarked, 'Under a potential Trump 2.0 administration, trade and great-power competition will likely dominate U.S. engagement, though strategic ambiguity persists,''South Asia remains low on the EU's agenda. Moving beyond symbolic gestures to meaningful engagement is critical,' said Shada Islam, Founder, New Horizons Project, Belgium, as she critiqued the EU's approach.'The EU's engagement is ritualistic, overly influenced by the transatlantic partnership. There is an urgent need to move beyond symbolism to meaningful regional engagement.' she added.'India's resistance to Chinese projects curbs BRI's South Asian reach. Nepal's vision of trilateral connectivity remains aspirational without India's involvement', said Apekshya Shah, Senior Fellow, Nepal Economic Forum. She further added governance issues and limited political consensus remain major challenges in delivering the closing remarks, Bipul Chattopadhyay, Executive Director of CUTS International, called for a stronger focus on fostering not only physical connectivity but also energy and people-to-people linkages in the future. He emphasised that security remains supreme, noting that 'mutual respect for each nation's security and sovereignty is essential to forging a path towards incremental progress in regional cooperation.'
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Illegal sites target minors, vulnerable groups with fast bets, big payouts: Report
HighlightsAggressive financial incentives and rapid-fire betting products from illegal online gambling platforms are attracting vulnerable users, including minors and individuals at risk of addiction, with annual deposits nearing USD 100 billion. The report 'Fixing the Odds: A Policy Blueprint for Curbing Illegal Online Gambling in India' by CUTS International highlights over 5.4 billion visits to the top 15 illegal gambling platforms, showcasing the extensive reach and appeal of these sites. Illegal gambling operators exploit regulatory loopholes and employ advanced psychological strategies, making it easier for young adults and impulsive individuals to engage in high-risk betting, while also utilizing evolving tactics to facilitate fund movement through India's payment systems. Aggressive financial incentives and rapid-fire betting products offered by illegal online gambling platforms are drawing vulnerable users, including minors and those at risk of addiction, into high-risk gambling at unprecedented rates. These platforms, unburdened by the 28 per cent GST and TDS deductions that legitimate operators must levy, lure users with more attractive payouts and instant-gratification games banned on regulated sites, reveals a report. The report estimates that annual deposits are nearing USD 100 billion in these illegal platforms. The report, "Fixing the Odds: A Policy Blueprint for Curbing Illegal Online Gambling in India," published by CUTS International , showed that illegal gambling operators are exploiting regulatory loopholes to target young adults, high spenders, and individuals especially susceptible to gambling harms. CUTS International's analysis estimates over 5.4 billion visits to the top 15 illegal gambling platforms and their mirror sites in just one year, underscoring the scale of the problem. "The extent of the problem can be gauged from the report's analysis - over 5.4 billion visits to the top 15 illegal gambling platforms across 40 of their mirror sites took place between April 2024 and March 2025. Top platforms such as 1xBet, Parimatch, Stake, Fairplay, and BateryBet consistently registered high traffic volumes and broad user reach. "Traffic share for Parimatch for the month of March 2025 even outranked widely used platforms such as and the report said. Unlike slower, skill-based games permitted on licensed platforms, illegal sites feature fast-paced betting products that enable multiple wagers within minutes -- an approach that research links to higher rates of addictive behaviour and financial loss among users. These platforms also bypass consumer protection measures by requiring little to no documentation, making it easier for minors and vulnerable individuals to participate. The report notes that aggressive marketing, including surrogate advertising and extensive use of private messaging and outdoor campaigns, further amplifies the reach of these sites. "Over 66 per cent of total traffic, amounting to more than 3.5 billion visits (between April 2024 and March 2025), are through direct traffic, meaning users are manually entering URLs, using bookmarks, or copying links from private channels," the report said. The allure of illegal gambling platforms stems from their ease of access and the intense, high-risk environments they create. Sites like Stake and 1xBet employ advanced psychological strategies in their design and enable riskier forms of betting, heightening the sense of excitement for users. These adrenaline-charged settings are especially appealing to young people who seek thrills and those prone to impulsive behaviour, which significantly raises their chances of experiencing gambling-related problems. Further, illegal gambling operators continue to facilitate the movement of funds by employing rapidly evolving tactics and exploiting loopholes and vulnerabilities in India's payment infrastructure. Such tactics include extensive use of the United Payments Interface (UPI) system, mule accounts, and mobile APKs. Ministry of Finance on March 22, 2025, revealed intensified enforcement against offshore online entities, with nearly 700 under investigation. So far, 357 illegal or non-compliant websites/URLs have been blocked and almost 2,000 bank accounts, apart from other robust initiatives.
Hans India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Illegal gambling platforms putting minors and youth at risk: Report
A new report on Sunday raised serious concerns about the growing threat of illegal online gambling platforms in India, especially to vulnerable groups like minors and young adults. The report by public policy think tank CUTS International warns that these platforms are not only targeting impressionable users with addictive, high-risk games but are also bypassing basic safety checks, such as age verification and identity confirmation. It highlights that the scale of the problem is massive. Between April 2024 and March 2025, there were more than 5.4 billion visits to the top 15 illegal gambling platforms, spread across 40 mirror websites. Some platforms like Parimatch, 1xBet, Stake, Fairplay, and BateryBet are among the most visited. In fact, Parimatch's web traffic in March 2025 was higher than popular platforms like Google India, Amazon, Wikipedia, and Hotstar, revealing the alarming reach of these operations. CUTS International estimates that users are depositing close to $100 billion annually into these illegal betting platforms. Many of these platforms are based overseas and use loopholes in India's payment systems and advertising networks to operate freely, posing a major risk to both consumer safety and national security. Pradeep Mehta, Founder and Secretary General of CUTS International, said that illegal gambling operators are exploiting India's digital infrastructure while evading any form of accountability. "This presents a major national security threat and also exposes Indian consumers to serious harm," Mehta said at the report's release. One of the most disturbing findings of the report is how easily minors can access these gambling sites. These platforms often avoid even the most basic checks like KYC (Know Your Customer) or age verification. Some even offer cash-on-delivery payment options, allowing teenagers with no access to digital wallets or cards to gamble repeatedly without any supervision. The use of high-stakes, psychologically addictive game designs makes them even more dangerous for young, sensation-seeking users. The report also reveals how these platforms attract such massive traffic. Around 66 per cent of users visit directly, often through saved links, private messages, or bookmarks, giving a false impression of trust and legitimacy. Big media campaigns, celebrity endorsements, billboards, and SEO-boosted search visibility further increase their reach.
