HNLU Raipur Hosts Global Certificate Program On Sustainable Trade And Environmental Governance

Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU) through its Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, School of Law and Technology, in collaboration with the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under the WTO Chairs Programme, and Economic Laws Practice (ELP) saw the culmination of the week-long certificate program on Sustainable Trade and Environmental Governance conducted from May 5^th-15^th, 2025.

Demonstrating global reach, the program drew a number of participants from countries such as the United States and Belgium. This diverse group was composed of 20% Academicians, 20% Professionals, 25% Research Scholars and 35% Students.

The week-long program commenced on May 5, 2025, with an inaugural ceremony presided over by distinguished guests Prof. (Dr.) James Nedumpara, Head of CTIL, and Mr. Sanjay Notani, Senior Partner and Head of International Trade and Customs Practice at ELP. The inaugural address, delivered by Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan, Vice-Chancellor, HNLU Raipur, and President of the Consortium of NLUs, effectively set the intellectual tone for the week's discussions.

Over the week, engaging hour-long interactive sessions were held with participants on themes ranging from the very foundations of sustainable trade to more nuances areas such as the Blue Economy and Sustainable Consumption Methods. These sessions were delivered by distinguished scholars in the field of International Trade and Economic Law, including Prof. Abhijit Das (International Trade Policy and WTO Expert), Mr. Sumanta Chaudhuri (Principal Advisor, International Trade Policy Division, Confederation of Indian Industry), Mr. Ajay Srivastav (Founder, Global Trade Research Initiative, New Delhi), Prof. Mukesh Bhatnagar (Independent Consultant on Fisheries subsidies and international trade issues), Ms. Stuti Toshi (International Trade & Investment Lawyer, Delhi), and Ms. Manya Gupta (Fellow, Institute of International Economic Law, US).

During the valedictory ceremony conducted on 15^th May 2025, Prof. (Dr.) V.C. Vivekanandan reiterated the role of interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and international dialogue in shaping the future of trade, law, policy, and governance. He emphasized that “trade is no longer just an engine of growth, but it is a vehicle for transformation.” The event also featured contributions from Mr. Anurag Sehgal, Managing Director, PW & Co. LLP, and Ms. Ameeta Verma Duggal, Founder Partner, DGS Associates, Delhi, who shared their practical experiences on the program's theme. Both lauded HNLU's efforts in creating a platform to explore the complexities of international trade and environmental governance.