India reaffirmed its commitment to an open, fair, and inclusive multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO). At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in Vladivostok yesterday, India also stressed the scope to leverage the SCO’s collective strengths for shared prosperity. In a statement, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said the country highlighted the need for export diversification, reducing dependency, and building resilient supply chains.

India also emphasised the importance of coordinated action to enhance trade flows, address vulnerabilities, and support inclusive growth across the region. Representing the Commerce and Industry Minister, Additional Secretary Amitabh Kumar highlighted the importance of a development-centred agenda that includes a permanent solution on Public Stockholding for food security purposes, effective Special and Differential Treatment for developing countries, and restoration of a fully functional two-tier WTO dispute settlement system.

He also underlined the role of services trade and the temporary movement of skilled professionals, in line with national laws and transparency, to strengthen economic growth and support greater participation of MSMEs in global value chains. On the digital economy, India proposed SCO workstreams focused on fair, transparent and predictable regulatory frameworks, voluntary cooperation on best practices, and capacity-building for secure, innovation-led digitalisation. It also showcased its achievements in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including UPI for real-time payments, India Stack for identity and consent management, and ONDC for unbundled digital commerce.