Raipur HNLU hosts global conference on sustainable trade and inclusive growth
The event coincided with World Nature Conservation Day.
Inaugurating the conference, HNLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan stated that "profit cannot be divorced from purpose, and trade flows cannot ignore climate footprints." The inaugural session featured dignitaries including Prof. Pritam Banerjee, Head, Centre for WTO Studies, IIFT; Prof. Jolene Lin, Director, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law, NUS; and Ms.
Reena Asthana Khair, Senior Partner, Kochhar & Co.
, Delhi.
The conference highlighted the urgent need to balance economic growth with environmental protection. Prof. Lin emphasised sustainable trade policies, Ms. Khair spoke on the challenges of achieving growth without compromising the environment, and Prof. Banerjee cautioned against the erosion of international trade norms by rising protectionist policies.
The two-day event included six technical sessions and two high-level panel discussions. Topics covered included eco-labelling, carbon border tax adjustments, ESG integration, green financing, and digital solutions for sustainable trade. The conference received over 100 abstract submissions, with 41 papers presented by scholars and professionals from leading NLUs, IIMs, and international institutions like University West (Sweden), University College London, and LSE.
Technical sessions and panels were chaired by experts such as Prof. Anthony Cambas, University of Mississippi, Dr. Hina Aslam, Australian National University/WEF, Dr. Justine Viviane Muller, NUS, and Prof. YU Chen, City University of Hong Kong.
A panel on "Navigating the Green Trade Maze" discussed balancing eco-labels and carbon border tax adjustments, while another on "ESG Integration and Green Financing" explored sustainable value chains in the post-pandemic economy.
Prominent panelists included T.D. Satish, IISD, Geneva, Garima Srivastava, PwC, UK, Kajol Tandon, IETA, Singapore, and Dr Neera Sharma, Sistema Smart Technologies.
The conference concluded on July 28 with a valedictory session addressed by Prof. (Dr.) Bindu S. Ronald, Vice-Chancellor, MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Sanjay Notani, Senior Partner, ELP; and Prachi Priya, AVP, Hindalco Industries Ltd.
In her address, Prof.
Ronald said "aligning trade and business with sustainability is no longer optional but a strategic necessity." Notani highlighted the ICJ's stance that states must regulate businesses in line with climate obligations. Priya lauded India's pragmatic and context-sensitive approach to sustainable trade policy.
Prof. Vivekanandan presented a five-point roadmap for integrating trade and sustainability, focusing on mainstreaming ESG in trade, promoting a circular economy through trade policies, establishing global sustainability standards with local flexibility, leveraging digital technology for sustainable trade, and embedding 'just transition' principles in governance.
Dr. Ankit Awasthi, conference secretary, announced that a book of selected papers will be published to contribute to global discourse.
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