The World Trade Organisation WTO today said that India will gain access to 1.7 trillion dollar procurement market if it joins WTO's global procurement agreement (GPA). Speaking at an Assocham function in New Delhi WTO Secretariat Deputy Director Harsha V Singh said WTO's GPA provides a guarantee of access to foreign procurement markets for goods and services. Currently, India has an observer status in this plurilateral pact. The GPA, which is a legally binding agreement in the WTO, sets fair rules for public purchases. Members to the agreement open their markets only to fellow signatories-rather than to all WTO members. The observer status gives India an insight into how governments of developed countries place multi-billion procurement orders with the industry. But it does not mean that India is under an obligation to subject its approximately 125 billion dollar government purchases to the WTO rules. India has a big market in which foreign companies are willing to offer their goods and services.Singh hoped India would reach some kind of conclusion after its own internal assessment and taking feedback from its stakeholders. At present, 42 WTO members are signatories to GPA. Developed countries, most of which are members of GPA, want India to sign the GPA under the WTO.