Phasing out trade-distorting subsidies
The message was loud and clear. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the Asia-Africa Summit made it clear that developed countries have to mend their ways of doing business with developing countries. Without mincing too many words he rightly said that these nations have to phase out their trade-distorting subsidies.

Indeed barriers to exports have to be removed in a bid to protect the livelihood of millions in developing countries. Moreover, rigid visa restrictions which continue to obstruct free movement of people and services have to be eased too.

Although the Summit was the right forum for countries in the South to deal with the injustice as the result of the WTO's policies, I still feel several issues were left untouched.

We all know that the free market has provided opportunities for rich countries to export their products at much lower prices than production cost since they receive significant subsidies from their respective governments. However, the exim community here does not enjoy such subsidies, causing them lack in competitiveness in the global market.

The Afro-Asian countries have now to ease tensions by increasing interaction among different parties in the two continents including the governments, businessmen, and regional organizations if they are to negate the crippling policies of the big brothers. The Summit I will say was one tottering step towards that.