A new group of 10 countries has emerged within the Non-Agriculture Market Access (Nama) with the name of ''Core Group,'' which is linking progress level with agriculture sector at the organisation level.
The representatives of the group, which includes South Africa, India, Brazil, Malaysia, Argentina, Indonesia and Philippine etc, met Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar, who is also the ''facilitator'' of Nama, and presented their demands.
When asked what their demands were, the Minister said that basically they have formally restated their positions, adding that they were all developing countries seeking more period of implementations.
Humayun said that it was crystal-clear that agriculture progress would open the log jam of Nama, suggesting that the ''Swiss Formula'' was achievable and it should be in Nama.
Humayun said that Pakistan has become member of ''Cairns group'' which was already representing wide range of agriculture trading nations.
Pakistan is committed to creating a fairer world for its farmers by securing fundamental reforms of the global trading environment for agriculture.
Humayun said that he was meeting with people of different thinking to reach some conclusion at Nama level, and added that if there was progress in agriculture "we will move very fast at this forum".
He said that Friday and Saturday were important days for progress in talks at the Ministerial Conference.
"If progress has to be made, then these days are important; and if there is no progress, these would be like other days," he added.
He said that some positive signals had come from the US and EU, citing the statement of Peter Mandelson in which he had said that he should be given a ''chance to blink''.
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