Developing nations can't meet growth targets: India

Warning that many developing nations will not be able to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals, India has asked the rich countries to meet the commitments made by them to increase official development assistance, transfer technology and enhance market access to the poor to help them achieve the targets.

"Unfortunately, the trend is in the opposite direction," Ambassador Ajai Malhotra said and demanded increased voice for the developing nations in the decision making process of international financial institutions. MDGs are a set of goals which seek to drastically reduce or eliminate several social and economic ills.

Addressing the ministerial level meeting of the Group of 77 (G-77) developing countries on Thursday, Malhotra said the Doha round of negotiations must ensure primacy of development dimension. Subsistence farming in developing countries, he asserted, cannot be compared with the enormously subsidised farming that takes place in developed countries.

"The overarching principle of special and differential treatment remains a categorical imperative. We hope that our developed country partners will show the necessary flexibility so that progress

in the negotiations is achieved," he added. Expressing concern over drop in ODA last year, Malhotra regretted that a substantial part is being channeled towards debt relief, with no additional or new resources being made available to the poor.

"Given that the process of debt relief has been largely completed for most donors, the prognosis remains grim for a future increase in aid so as to reach the targeted 0.7 per cent of GNI," Malhotra said.

Pointing out that there is an upward trend in overall resource transfer from developing to developed countries, Malhotra said that real and effective technology transfer needs to take place to developing countries.

He emphasised the need for unity and solidarity among developing nations, saying that the singular success of this Group has been in its ability to project the common interests with one voice.

"The continued cohesiveness of the Group remains key to ensuring that the interests of developing countries are adequately protected and promoted. It is satisfying to note that even in areas where some of our members have somewhat varying concerns, the Group has been able to coalesce around common elements," he added.