🌐 Chapter 08 · Topic 03 · International Organisations

Trade & Economic Organisations

WTO, UNCTAD, OECD, G20, G7, G77 — formation, headquarters, members, and India’s role.

🌐 WTO — World Trade Organization

HQ: Geneva, Switzerland; Founded: 1 January 1995 (replaced GATT)
Members: 164
Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria; since 2021 — first woman and first African DG)
Functions: regulates international trade; resolves trade disputes; negotiates trade agreements
GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) — predecessor; established 1947; replaced by WTO in 1995
India is a founding member of WTO
WTO Ministerial Conferences (MC) — highest decision-making body; held every 2 years
MC13 held in Abu Dhabi (2024)

🌐 G20 — Group of Twenty

Established: 1999 (as finance ministers’ forum); elevated to leaders’ level in 2008
Members: 19 countries + EU + African Union (AU joined 2023)
G20 members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, USA + EU + AU
No permanent secretariat; presidency rotates annually
India hosted G20 Summit in 2023 (New Delhi, 9–10 September 2023)
India’s G20 theme: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — One Earth, One Family, One Future”
Key achievement: African Union admitted as permanent member at India’s G20

🌐 Other Trade & Economic Organisations

Organisation	HQ	Founded	Members	Key Role
OECD	Paris, France	1961	38	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; developed countries; promotes economic growth
G7	No permanent HQ	1975	7	USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada; major advanced economies
G77	New York (UN)	1964	134	Largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in UN; India is a member
UNCTAD	Geneva, Switzerland	1964	195	UN Conference on Trade and Development; promotes developing countries’ trade
OPEC	Vienna, Austria	1960	13	Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; coordinates oil production and prices
WEF	Cologny, Switzerland	1971	—	World Economic Forum; Davos summit; public-private cooperation

⭐ India’s G20 Presidency 2023: India held the G20 Presidency from December 2022 to November 2023. The G20 Summit was held in New Delhi on 9–10 September 2023. Key achievements: (1) African Union admitted as permanent G20 member; (2) New Delhi Declaration adopted unanimously; (3) Global Biofuels Alliance launched; (4) India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced. India’s theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One Future) reflected India’s vision of inclusive global development.

📌 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala — WTO DG: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became the Director-General of the WTO in March 2021 — the first woman and first African to hold this position. She is a Nigerian economist and former Finance Minister of Nigeria. Her appointment was significant as it broke two barriers simultaneously. She has focused on vaccine equity, trade and health, and digital trade during her tenure.

✅ Revision Checklist

✅ WTO = Geneva = 1 January 1995 = replaced GATT = 164 members
✅ WTO DG = Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria) = first woman + first African DG
✅ G20 = 1999 = 19 countries + EU + AU = no permanent secretariat
✅ India hosted G20 = 2023 New Delhi = “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”
✅ African Union joined G20 = 2023 = at India’s G20 Summit
✅ G7 = 1975 = 7 major advanced economies = USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada
✅ OECD = Paris = 1961 = 38 members = developed countries
✅ G77 = 1964 = 134 members = largest developing country group in UN
✅ OPEC = Vienna = 1960 = 13 members = oil-producing countries
✅ UNCTAD = Geneva = 1964 = promotes developing countries’ trade