The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) celebrated its 9th anniversary with an event at the Prime Minister's Museum and Library in New Delhi on October 7, 2026. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, in a video address, emphasized that established rules are being questioned while emerging issues such as sustainability-linked trade measures and digital trade are reshaping the global trade agenda. He stressed that rigorous legal thinking is more important than ever and noted that CTIL has earned the trust of the government, industry, and trade law community through its sustained work, including contributions to free trade agreement negotiations, dispute settlement, and institutional memory building.
Justice P. S. Narasimha of the Supreme Court of India observed that international investment law has evolved from focusing on foreign investment protection toward greater recognition of state regulatory freedom. He underscored the need for a durable framework that balances investment protection with state regulatory authority. Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Head of CTIL and WTO India Chair, highlighted that CTIL was established to strengthen India's trade capacity as part of economic statecraft, providing over 4,000 legal opinions and participating in negotiations concerning nearly 10 free trade agreements, along with contributions to WTO negotiations and dispute settlement.
Additional Secretary Yashvir Singh highlighted CTIL's contributions to major trade engagements including G20 and BRICS, while Vice Chancellor Dr. K. Rangarajan noted CTIL's growing role in providing expertise for international trade negotiations. Joint Secretary Kapil Chaudhary emphasized CTIL's expanding research in emerging areas including critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, supply chains, climate, and sustainability.
During the event, CTIL released its ninth anniversary magazine titled 'The Emerging Sustainability Landscape: Responding to Shifting Winds,' which examines opportunities and challenges for developing countries in the intersection of trade and sustainability. The center also launched a special anniversary edition of its monthly newsletter, Investment Law Compass, which covers developments in investment law and policy. The event concluded with Distinguished Long Service Awards presented to CTIL faculty and staff members.