HNLU-UNCITRAL RCAP hold Symposium on Global Trade Dynamics

An International Symposium on 'Global Trade Dynamics: Digital Economy and the Rule of Law' was recently held on December 6 by the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur's Centre for WTO and WIPO Studies, School of Law and Technology in collaboration with the UNCITRAL's Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP).

The symposium, held virtually, aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and explore strategies to strengthen legal infrastructure for digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme was conceived by the Head of HNLU's Centre for WTO and WIPO studies, Dr. Ankit Awasthi.

The inaugural sessions began with an address by HNLU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. VC Vivekanandan who highlighted critical legal issues of data privacy, cyber security, IP protection, and regulation of digital platforms as challenges in the modern age.

The Chief Guest for the event, Head of UNCITRAL RCAP, Athitha Komindr highlighted UNCITRAL's efforts in developing legal frameworks for the digital economy and spoke about ongoing projects to support global legal consistency.

Head, Centre for Trade and Investment Law, IIFT, Prof. (Dr.) James J Nedumpara 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 international collaboration.

A panel discussion on 'E-Governance and the Rule of Law: Strengthening Legal Infrastructure for Digital Transformation in the Asian Pacific' saw UNCITRAL Legal Officer, Vienna, Luca Castellini explain 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.

Director and Principal Economist, Asia Decoded, Priyanka Kishore, highlighted the impact of US trade policies on Asian economies and India's potential growth through Free Trade Agreements.

Standards and Digital Policy Lead, Digital Goods Alliance, UNICEF France, Amreen Taneja, spoke on the role of digital public goods in advancing Sustainable Development Goals and the rule of law.

Senior Legal Consultant, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Pallavi Bajaj stressed on the need for need for accountability, transparency and strong legal frameworks to ensure sustainable digital transformation.

Assistant Professor and Master’s Supervisor, International Law School, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, Dr Jiankun Li, threw light on China's legal framework for digital trade and its goals to enhance growth, governance, and data security.

A Q&A session was also held as part of the event, moderated by students of HNLU, Prateek Manjul and Kruthika Senthil Kumar. The symposium was attended by 425 participants from across 19 countries.

The valedictory session had Prof. Raj Bhala as Chief Guest, who provided an insight on the shape of things in US during the second regime of President Trump.

Head of Digital Tech and Law of Anand and Anand, Delhi, Dr. Ajai Garg, also spoke, highlighting digital trade challenges, AI regulation, and UNCITRAL’s role in fostering a secure, inclusive global digital economy.