HNLU Concludes The International Conference On 'Trade, Business & Sustainability: Pathways To Inclusive & Resilient Growth'
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, through its Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, School of Law & Technology, in collaboration with the Environment and Sustainability Chapter of the Asian Law Schools Association (ALSA), hosted the HNLU-ALSA International Conference on “Trade, Business & Sustainability: Pathways to Inclusive & Resilient Growth” on July 27–28, 2025, coinciding with World Nature Conservation Day.
Inaugurating the conference, Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan, Vice-Chancellor, HNLU, emphasized that “profit cannot be divorced from purpose, and trade flows cannot ignore climate footprints.” Distinguished dignitaries included 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 inaugural deliberations highlighted the need to balance economic growth with environmental protection. Prof. Lin underscored the urgency of sustainable trade policies, Ms. Khair stressed the challenge of achieving growth without compromising the environment, and Prof. Banerjee cautioned against the erosion of international trade norms by rising protectionist policies.
Technical Sessions & Panel Discussions The two-day event featured six technical sessions and two high-level panel discussions, covering:
- Eco-Labeling, Carbon Border Tax Adjustments, and Market Access
- ESG Integration, Green Financing, and Climate Investments
- Digital Solutions for Sustainable Trade and Inclusive Growth
The conference received over 100 abstract submissions, culminating in 41 paper presentations from leading scholars and professionals representing NLUs, IIMs, and international institutions, including 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).
Panel Highlights:
- “Navigating the Green Trade Maze” examined balancing eco-labels, CBTAs, and inclusive market access.
- “ESG Integration and Green Financing” explored sustainable value chains in a post-pandemic economy.
Prominent panelists included Mr. T.D. Satish (IISD, Geneva), Ms. Garima Srivastava (PwC, UK), Ms. Kajol Tandon (IETA, Singapore), and Dr. Neera Sharma (Sistema Smart Technologies).
Valedictory Session & Future Roadmap The conference concluded on July 28 with a valedictory session addressed by Prof. (Dr.) Bindu S. Ronald, Vice-Chancellor, MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Mr. Sanjay Notani, Senior Partner, ELP; and Ms. Prachi Priya, AVP, Hindalco Industries Ltd.
Prof. Ronald observed that “aligning trade and business with sustainability is no longer optional but a strategic necessity”. Mr. Notani highlighted the ICJ's affirmation that states must regulate businesses in line with climate obligations, while Ms. Priya lauded India's pragmatic and context-sensitive approach to sustainable trade policy.
In his valedictory address, Prof. Vivekanandan presented a five-point roadmap for integrating trade and sustainability, emphasising: Mainstreaming ESG in trade and business strategies, Promoting circular economy through trade policies, Establishing global sustainability standards with local flexibility, Leveraging digital technology for sustainable trade & Embedding “just transition” principles in governance Conference Outcome Dr. Ankit Awasthi, Conference Secretary and Head, Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, presented the conference report and announced a forthcoming book of selected papers to contribute to global discourse on trade, business, and sustainability. The event had Dr. Deepak Srivastav, Registrar in-charge and Prof. Yogendra Srivastav, Dean PG studies, participating in the inaugural and valediction and anchored by HNLU students - Subhiksha SK, Tanya, Devishi Agarwal and Samridhi Pratap Dubey.
Important Links: Posters