New Delhi: Indicating India's strong stand at the forthcoming WTO (World Trade Organisation) ministerial meeting in Cancun, government has said its "hands are not tied" to exercise the choice on multi-lateral framework on investments, proposed by developed countries.

"Our hands are not tied in any manner when this issue (modalities regarding multi-lateral framework) will come for a decision at Cancun. We should be able to freely exercise our choice based on perceived interests and objective assessment," Minister of State for Commerce Rajiv Pratap Rudy said in New Delhi.

An important area where a follow up decision would come up in Cancun, Mexico, would be on the 'so- called' Singapore issues in which the study of relationship between trade and investment was of particular importance, he said last night inaugurating a global seminar on Trade, Investment and Development, jointly organised by the Commerce Ministry and UNCTAD.

The proponents for negotiations in the area were now going ahead with a suggestion that a multi-lateral framework be considered in WTO in investment and certain modalities were proposed, he said, adding, "We need to examine them carefully if these proposals are in developing countries' interests and whether they will further the development objectives".

He said it had been argued by some that being a party to a multi-lateral agreement would help attract investment, but no "serious" study had come out supporting the view that such a framework was significant determinant of investment.

PTI