HNLU-UNCITRAL RCAP: International Symposium On 'Global Trade Dynamics: Digital Economy And The Rule Of Law'

Update: 2024-12-09 12:14 GMT
HNLU-UNCITRAL RCAP: International Symposium On Global Trade Dynamics: Digital Economy And The Rule Of Law
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Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, through its Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, School of Law and Technology and in collaboration with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP) under UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Days 2024 successfully concluded the International Symposium on “Global Trade Dynamics: Digital Economy and the Rule of Law” on December 06, 2024 in online mode.

The symposium aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and explore strategies to strengthen legal infrastructure for digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme conceived and conducted by Dr. Ankit Awasthi, Head of Centre for WTO & WIPO studies provided the overview of the sessions and expected outcome. The Inaugural session had Prof Vivekanandan, Vice Chancellor & President of the Consortium of NLUs highlighting the critical legal issues of Data Privacy , Cyber Security, , IP Protection, Digital Divide and regulation of digital platform as the challenges.

The Chief Guest Ms. Athita Komindr, Head, UNCITRAL RCAP, highlighted UNCITRAL's efforts in developing harmonized legal frameworks for the digital economy, emphasizing key principles and ongoing projects to support global legal consistency. The Guest of Honour, Prof. (Dr.) James J. Nedumpara, Professor and Head, Centre for Trade and Investment Law, IIFT, discussed the evolving digital economy and its impact on global trade, highlighting the need for clearer regulations on digital trade, data flows, and intellectual property, while emphasizing India's progress and the importance of capacity building and international collaboration.


Following the inaugural the panel discussion on “E-Governance and the Rule of Law: Strengthening Legal Infrastructure for Digital Transformation in the Asian Pacific” had Mr. Luca Castellani, UNCITRAL Legal Officer, Vienna touched upon the UNCITRAL's key initiatives in advancing digital trade, focusing on legal frameworks for data-driven systems, cross-border recognition, and automation in the face of global challenges. Ms. Priyanka Kishore, Director and Principal Economist, Asia Decoded, Singapore, highlighted the impact of U.S. trade policies on Asian economies and India's potential growth through Free Trade Agreementy.

Ms. Amreen Taneja, Standards & Digital Policy Lead, Digital Goods Alliance, UNICEF France, addressed the virtual gathering and streamlined her discussion around the role of Digital Public Goods in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and the rule of law. Ms. Pallavi Bajaj, Senior Legal Consultant, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, stressed the need for accountability, transparency, and strong legal frameworks to ensure sustainable digital transformation. Thereafter, Dr. Jiankun Li, Assistant Professor and Master's Supervisor, International Law School, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, discussed China's legal framework for digital trade and its future goals to enhance growth, governance, and data security. The panellists also engaged in a fruitful and engaging Q&A session moderated by Mr. Prateek Manjul and Ms. Kruthika Senthil Kumar, Students of HNLU.

The Valedictory session had Prof Raj Bhala of the law school at Kansas University as the Chief Guest who highlighted the shape of things in the second time Trump regime and attendant challenges. Dr. Ajai Garg, Head of Digital Tech and Law of Anand and Anand, Delhi, as the guest of honour highlighted digital trade challenges, AI regulation, and UNCITRAL's role in fostering a secure, inclusive global digital economy.

The Symposium had 425 registered participants from across 19 countries, representing 6 jurisdictions and participants from:

Asia-Pacific: Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Vietnam.

Middle East and North Africa: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates.

Europe: France, Portugal, Austria (Vienna).

North America: United States of America.

Latin America: Mexico.

Africa: Nigeria.

Key outcomes of the symposium included:

● Identification of strategies aligned with the principles of the rule of law to support digital trade growth.

● Enhanced understanding of the role of harmonized legal frameworks in fostering sustainable digital economies.

● Strengthened collaborations across academia, industry, and international organizations.

The Event has laid the foundation for future collaboration between UNCITRAL, IIFT and other organizations participants in the symposium



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