GATT - before it is too Late

GATT, the General Agreement on Trade and Tariff evolved during last few decades encompasses a set of agreements by majority of world nations for an orderly international trade thereby setting a new economic order in the world. TRIPS, the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights, TRIMS, the Trade Related Investment Measure Services, the Sui Generissystem and the UPOVi.e. International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants have special significance for the forestry sector. It offers opportunities in making use of the biodiversity inherent in the tropical forests of the country. It has heen brought out that biodiversity holds key to development in future as it is no longer possible to mine the natural resources in perpetuity. Biodiversity offers opportunities in increasing production on a sustained basis to meet the demands of developing world in coming times. The fields ofbio-technology, energy from biological resources, bio-fertilizers and pesticides health care have been specifically -identified for research with international trade orientation as there is great demand in these fields for development. Skilled human resource so abundantly available in country is also identified for enhancing contribution in international trade and the economy of the country. The paper also lists number of steps needed to make good use of the opportunities available before it is lost. These steps include conservation of gene pool, impetus to research in identified fields, human resource development and marketing and strategic alliances.