WTI continues its outreach activities in India

The World Trade Institute’s Director of Studies, Prof. Peter Van den Bossche, spent ten days in India this June. He had the opportunity to teach in several Indian institutions and visited various universities in Delhi and Bangalore.

Prof. Van den Bossche taught a course on the ‘Essentials of WTO Law and Policy’ in the sixth WTI-CWS Joint Academy on International Trade Law and Policy in New Delhi, which was jointly organised by the World Trade Institute and the Centre for WTO Studies. For a brief recap and photos from the 2019 WTI-CWS Joint Academy, click here.

He was also invited by the National Law School of India University, Bangalore – a partner university of the Faculty of Law of the University of Bern – to give a presentation. He was warmly welcomed and had inspiring discussions with Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.Venkata Rao, Prof. T.S. Somashekhar, Prof. Govindraj G. Hegde and Prof. Rahul Singh.

In Bangalore an interesting event was jointly organised by Swissnex India and Takshashila Institution for Prof. Van den Bossche. In the premises of Swissnex India he gave a presentation on ‘Uncertain Times Ahead: India and the Crisis at the World Trade Organization’, followed by a conversation with Nitin Pai, Director of the Takshashila Institution.

Back in Delhi, Prof. Van den Bossche visited Amity University, a WTI MoU partner, where he gave a presentation to faculty members and research fellows of the faculties of law and international relations on ‘The WTO Dispute Settlement System – Is the End Near?’

Prof. Van den Bossche also had the opportunity to meet the Dean of the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) Prof. Shubhashis Gangopadhyay, in Delhi.  On this occasion, he had the honour to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for future cooperation between the WTI and ISPP.

Another highlight of his visit to India was a presentation at the premises of the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi. Prof. Van den Bossche gave a ‘Trade Talk’, which was combined with a dinner reception for the students of the Joint Academy, Delhi-based alumni of the World Trade Institute and other interested parties.

From 11 to 13 June 2019 the World Trade Institute (WTI) and the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) jointly organised a Training and Capacity Building Programme in International Trade and Investment Law for 70 Indian government officials. The three-day training took place at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in New Delhi. Prof. Peter Van den Bossche and Prof. Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer taught courses on international trade and investment law.

On 12 June 2019, the CTIL celebrated its second anniversary. Dr. Anup Wadhawan, Commerce Secretary, Government of India was invited as the Chief Guest on this occasion and Peter Van Den Bossche delivered the keynote speech. Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and Dr. Vijaya Katti, Dean Administration (Academics), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi also honoured the event with their presence. The welcome address was delivered by Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Head & Professor, CTIL.

The WTI and CTIL expressed their intent to cooperate in future activities, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.