Hidayatullah National Law University To Host Pre-Summit International Colloquium On Global Trade Careers And WTO's 30-Year Journey
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, through its Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, School of Law and Technology, in collaboration with the WTO Young Trade Leaders Programme and the Centre for Trade and Investment Law, IIFT, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India under the 'WTO Chairs Program' is set to host a three-day in-person International Trade Law Summit titled 'The WTO@30 Summit' from October 2-4, 2026. This Summit is designed as an outreach of the 'WTO Young Trade Leaders Program' and aims to foster global trade awareness and career opportunities for young professionals.
To build momentum and set the stage for the official Summit launch, a One-Day Pre-Summit International Colloquium on 'Global Trade Careers, The WTO's 30-Year Legacy, and Future Pathways' is planned for February 6, 2026. This Colloquium aims to bring together students, research scholars, academics, and trade practitioners for substantive engagement on emerging opportunities, skills, and professional trajectories in the field of international trade law and policy.
Structure of the International Colloquium:
- Meet the Young Trade Leader: A Conversation with Ms. Aarushi Shrivastav
The Colloquium will feature an in-person exclusive session with Ms. Aarushi Shrivastav, a distinguished Young Trade Leader (India) at the World Trade Organisation and an International Trade and Industrial Policy Analyst at Global Counsel. This session offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with a distinguished young professional shaping global trade advocacy and a roadmap to build a career in the field of International Trade Law.
- Panel Discussion: Global Trade Careers, The WTO's Institutional Evolution, and Beyond
This panel will convene leading trade experts, practitioners and young trade enthusiasts to explore two critical areas: The evolution of international trade law and policy over the past three decades, and the WTO's institutional role and transformation since its establishment. The discussion will also delve into the impact of international trade policy on global economics and development, offering clear pathways and opportunities for careers in international trade law and policy. In brief, it aims to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of global trade careers.
- Official Release: Launch of the WTO@30 Summit Brochure
The Colloquium will serve as the official platform to set the stage for the main event. It will culminate in the formal release of the detailed Summit brochure and dedicated webpage for the WTO@30 Summit (October 2-4, 2026). This Summit will bring together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to examine the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities for meaningful reform of the multilateral trading system, with a particular focus on the role of youth in shaping this process.
Key Summit Highlights:
The Summit will include technical sessions for research paper presentations and a panel discussion covering key thematic areas such as digital trade and data governance, sustainable development, institutional reforms, and trade & competition policy.
The Summit will host a Mock WTO Simulation (the first time in India), offering students and young professionals hands-on experience in multilateral trade diplomacy through negotiations and resolution drafting. To provide participants with a broader understanding of trade negotiations and related strategies, a certificate program will also be organised for all registered participants of the summit prior to the day of the Mock WTO Simulation.
Members from trade lab clinics will be invited to join, along with registered participants. The purpose of this colloquium also includes the establishment of the International Network for Trade Advocacy, Development & Research (IN-TADR), a dedicated platform designed to advance advocacy, capacity development, and high-quality research in the field of international trade law and set the stage for the official release of the detailed Summit brochure and web page. Further details about the summit will be shared on February 6, 2026, at the Pre-Summit International Colloquium - 'Global Trade Careers, The WTO's 30-Year Legacy, and Future Pathways'.
Registration Fees for Participation in the Colloquium:
▪ Indian Participants
▪ Academicians/Professionals: INR 1000
▪ Research Scholars and Students: INR 800
▪ Foreign Participants
▪ Academicians/Professionals: USD 20
▪ Research Scholars and Students: USD 10
Note:
▪ The registration fee includes the Registration Kit, Lunch, and High Tea scheduled for February 6, 2026.
▪ Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.
▪ Participants requiring accommodation may opt for it during registration.
▪ Accommodation will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis upon payment.
▪ Registration fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Bank details:
Name of the Account Holder: Registrar, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
Bank Name: State Bank of India
Branch Address: Indravati Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar
Bank Account No.: 41394244908
Bank IFSC Code: SBIN0018097 [For Indian participants]
Bank MICR Code: 492002055
Swift Code-SBININBB646 [For foreign participants]
QR/Link for registration:
https://forms.gle/F9kYxp2W2YoHukB26
Dates to Remember:
▪ Deadline for the Registration & Fee Payment for the colloquium: 28 January 2026
▪ Date of the colloquium: 6 February 2026
About Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur:
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) is a premier institute for legal education and research, and is in its 21st year of establishment. The University's motto, “Dharma sansthapanartham,” translates to 'for the sake of establishing the primacy of laws of eternal values.' In line with this ethos, HNLU strives to provide advanced legal education that shapes students into more than just legal professionals; it instils in them a profound responsibility to contribute to society.
In recent years, the university has introduced a series of seminal initiatives, such as Lex Osmose, Ex-Arca, HNLU Press, Sui Generis, HEXA, HAAI and R-Has. The Research-Hub and Spoke (R-HaS) constitutes five Hubs structured as School for Law & Technology, School for Law & Public Policy, School for Law & Humanities, School for Commercial Law & Arbitration and School for Law & Governance. Each School has five dedicated Research Centres. This colloquium is being organised under the aegis of the Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies, School of Law & Technology, HNLU Raipur.
About School for Law & Technology:
The School of Law and Technology (SLT) is the Research Hub of HNLU, which is mandated with research, teaching, and advocacy in the fields of intellectual property, privacy & data protection, cyber security, digital commerce, artificial intelligence, and policy impact on trade, commerce, & society. The school and its centres undertake research projects on the policy and practice of the above segments of the technology & law interface.
About Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies:
The Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies promotes research and analysis on international trade policies and IPRs within the framework of the WTO and WIPO. It aims to advance knowledge in these crucial domains, facilitate informed policymaking, and promote global cooperation to address interconnected issues. The Centre has consistently been at the forefront of International Trade Law. Since its inception, the Centre has organised several impactful programs, including:
▪ The HNLU – SICI International Conference on “International Trade in Marine Life and Fisheries” (2023)
▪ The HNLU-UNCITRAL RCAP International Symposium on “Global Trade Dynamics: Digital Economy and the Rule of Law” (2024)
Furthermore, the WTO chairs program includes:
▪ The First International Capacity Building Programme and Research Summit on “75 Years of Multilateral Trading System: Past, Present, and Future Discourse” (2023), and
▪ The International Certificate Program on “Sustainable Trade and Environmental Governance” (2025).
About the World Trade Organisation:
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world's trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
About Young Trade Leader Program:
The Young Trade Leaders Programme aims to foster a better understanding of the WTO's work and international trade among young people by creating a network of “Young Trade Leaders” around the world. People between the ages of 18 and 28 who have a strong interest in international trade are encouraged to apply.
WTO Young Trade Leaders are exceptional young people who have a clear understanding of how trade can be of benefit to people and the planet. They bring new perspectives and ideas about the role of trade and the WTO while also having the opportunity to learn about the organisation's work and play a role in advancing its mission.
About Centre for Trade and Investment Law:
The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) was established in the year 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT). The Centre's primary objective is to provide sound and rigorous analysis of legal issues pertaining to international trade and investment law to the Government of India and other governmental agencies. The Centre is aiming to create a dedicated pool of legal experts who could provide technical inputs for enhancing India's participation in international trade and investment negotiations and dispute settlement. The Centre also aims to be a thought leader in the various domains of international economic law such as WTO law, international investment law and legal issues relating to economic integration.
WTO Chairs Programme:
The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) enhances knowledge and understanding of the multilateral trading system among academics, policymakers and other stakeholders by supporting trade-related research, curriculum development and outreach activities at academic institutions in developing and least developed WTO members and observers. Launched in 2010, the Programme was enlarged under a second phase in 2014 and a third phase in 2022. Most recently, five institutions joined the Programme in 2025, diversifying the Programme's global representation. The network now comprises 39 academic institutions.
For further details and queries, please contact:
Dr. Ankit Awasthi (Secretary)
Head, Centre for WTO & WIPO Studies,
School for Law & Technology, HNLU Raipur, India
Email: cws@hnlu.ac.in, Phone: +91-7355235075
For more details, click here for brochure