February 20, 2011 1:43 PM

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G20 Finance Ministers express concern over food prices

G20 Finance Ministers have expressed concern over excessive commodity price volatility impacting the world food security, an issue pressed by India. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee stressed the need for a coordinated approach to tackle food, commodity and oil price volatility, which make emerging economies vulnerable. Addressing the G20 Finance Ministers meet in Paris last night, he said India does not contribute to the build-up or persistence of global imbalances but found no room for comfort in tackling food inflation in the backdrop of high international prices. According to the IMF estimates, commodity prices increased 20 to 30 per cent in 2010. Mr Mukherjee reiterated the need for long term investment in the agriculture sector in the developing countries. Finance Ministers of G20, which includes developed and developing countries, have also reached a compromise deal to correct global economic imbalances. After two days of hard bargain by Finance Ministers, G20 countries reached a text in the face of tough resistance from China to agree on guidelines for removal of structural flaws in the global economy. This was disclosed by French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde after the meeting. The finance ministers and central bank chiefs, who could not reach a broad consensus on framing rules for current account deficit and real exchange rate and reserves, said their aim is to agree, by their next meeting in April on a set of indicative guidelines to ensure orderly economic growth.

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