India seeks reforms in U.N., G-8

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) With financial crisis gripping the developed world, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday raised the pitch for reforms in the U.N., G-8 and other international institutions of governance and emphasised that the voice of the developing countries should be heard.

Inaugurating the India-Brazil-South Africa (I.B.S.A.)
Summit here, he said the Doha round of World Trade
Organisation (W.T.O.) talks should be approached purposefully
so that these negotiations are concluded in a "manner that
promotes development and inclusive growth".

"We are meeting against the backdrop of international
financial crisis," he said addressing the third Summit of the
three leading economies of three continents.

"Our voice on how to manage this crisis in a way that
does not jeopardise our development priorities needs to be
heard in international councils," Singh said in the presence
of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his South
African counterpart Kgalema Motlanthe.

The Prime Minister underlined the need for renewed
effort, more than ever before, for the reform of institutions
of international governance whether it is the U.N. or the G-8.

Singh also talked about the challenges posed by increase
in energy and food prices and the problem of terrorism, saying
these "threaten our development effort".

Underlining the importance of I.B.S.A., he said the forum
is "uniquely placed" to cooperate in these areas.

Noting that India, Brazil and South Africa are "dynamic
developing economies" located in three different continents,
the Prime Minister said "I.B.S.A. has an important role to
play internationally."

He underlined that the three countries "have a key role
to play in ensuring equitable global growth and in
contributing to international stability."

Contending that I.B.S.A. has become a role model for
effective South-South cooperation, Singh said the forum
provides a platform for the three countries to learn from each
other's experiences and to synergise complementaries in a
mutually-beneficial manner.

He said the working groups of the I.B.S.A. are making
efforts to identify concrete projects and activities for
trilateral cooperation. "Our focus must constantly remain on
implementation so that the benefits of our cooperation can be
brought to the doorsteps of our people."

The Prime Minister said improving connectivity among
I.B.S.A. countries "remains a challenge and must remain a
strategic objective". PTI AKK
PMR