The multilateral Doha Development Round remained the most efficient means to achieve goals, such as generating market access for goods and services through the reduction of obstacles to trade, the levelling of the playing field in trade-distorting subsidies and providing predictability and transparency to trade, World Trade Organisation (WTO) DG Pascal Lamy said on Thursday.

In a copy of a speech Lamy made to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in New Delhi, Lamy noted that a group of WTO Ministers would, at the end of the week, have the opportunity to map out how they intended on closing the Doha Round in 2010.

The Doha talks began in 2001 to help developing countries, but were stalled after countries disagreed on proposed tariff and subsidy cuts.

He emphasised that the world was facing a number of challenges, in terms of climate change, food security and global financial governance, and that go-it-alone measures by countries or organisations would not achieve the desired results.

"It is clear that the global community is facing daunting tasks. But it is also true that the system of global governance is evolving. We are seeing the emergence of new world leaders. Not that they are new. Many of them have a millenary history. But there is a realisation today, that global solutions will require giving these new leaders not only a voice, but also a say at the table," he added.

Lamy noted that a new triangle of global governance was emerging, which he believed should be strengthened.

He explained that the Group of 20 (G20) developing nations, which would provide global political leadership and policy direction, would form one side of the triangle.

A second side would comprise member-driven international organisations, like the WTO, which would provide expertise and specialised inputs in the form of rules, policies or programmes, he added.

The last side of the triangle would be the United Nations (UN), which would provide a "universal form of accountability", Lamy said.

"In the longer term, we should have both the G20 and the international agencies reporting to the ‘parliament' of the UN. This would constitute a potent mix of leadership, inclusiveness and action to ensure coherent and effective global governance," he concluded.