WEF India 2009: You tell us what to ask at the forum

Posted by Livemint on Friday, November 6, 2009

With top world leaders descending on Delhi in two days’ time for the World Economic Forum India Summit, Livemint.com invites readers to send in their questions and comments for two of the key sessions at the summit:

a. Transforming Urban Transportation: How Will It Be Done?
The issue: Only 25 of India’s 88 cities with populations over half a million have formal public transport systems, despite 45% of India’s urban population using public transport. How can the government promote innovative business models for viable, inclusive transit systems? What technological solutions and new financial mechanisms would be useful in managing private motorization demand, resolving infrastructure deficiencies, and promoting integrated land use and transport planning?

b. Trade and Climate Change: Economic Imperative or Green Imperialism?
The issue: Trade and climate policies have become increasingly entwined as countries grapple with the challenge of integrating economic interests with the management of climate change. What are the economic effects of trade and climate change policies, and how can different viewpoints between developed and developing countries be reconciled?

Send us your questions and comments through any of the following channels:

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Email: sidin.v[at]livemint.com/ayeshea.p[at]livemint.com

Or just leave a comment below!

We’ll pick the best entries and make sure your questions are asked at the sessions. Later we’ll tell you what some of the brightest, most powerful people in the world had to say in response.

For continuing coverage of the summit through video, blogs, twitter and photos don’t forget to bookmark this website.

  • shrutimittal
    Are there any alternate ways to fill the gap between offered aid for climate change mitigation and that demanded by developing nations, instead of drawing from south's GDP?
    (tweet at http://twitter.com/WondersGarfield)
  • While this doesn't directly relate to the topics mentioned above but its impact cannot be denied in the long run on all of the above issues.

    Consider this: While India is still grappling with the challenges of leveraging our Demographic dividend, change is inevitable. Ageing a certainty! Ageing has several implications on the economy - Public finances of an ageing population can have it issues esp. public pension & healthcare, as is being already seen in many of the “developed” and “rich” countries. For India that includes the implications of the fisc deficit, additionally. Given averages mask diversity: For starters - the absolute numbers of older people will swell alarmingly, simply because our country is so populous! Some stats:

    - UN’s recent biennial population forecasts, the median age for all countries is due to rise from 29 now to 38 by 2050.
    - Our neighbour and partner in spurring world economic growth – China, is already ageing rapidly.

    So my question is: What is being done so that India is not caught napping (refer Common Wealth Games) when we do come face-to-face with this eventuality of an ageing population. Given that policy initiatives, socio-economic changes will take its time for impact to percolate. Also, what can be done better than what is already being done?






  • Pooja
    India recently signed a CEPA with S. Korea in August. What is the probability of entering such pacts with western nations to increase bilateral trade and foreign investments into India?
  • livemint
    Thank you for your question Pooja!
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