HNLU Successfully Completes Its First TradeLab Project

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing its first TradeLab Project in collaboration with United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) and Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL). The initiative highlights the university’s growing role in international trade law, digital governance, and policy-oriented legal research. (Live Law)

The project focused on strengthening research in digital trade regulation and contributed to regional policy discussions by preparing research for major international publications. It also reflects HNLU’s emphasis on combining academic excellence with practical legal research that supports policymakers and international institutions. (Live Law)

Key Contributions of the TradeLab Project

As part of the project, the HNLU research team contributed to two important regional publications:

• Digital Trade Regulatory Review for South and South-West Asia 2025
• Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) 2.1 Economy Profiles 2025

The RDTII publication includes economy profiles of:

• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• India
• Maldives
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• Türkiye

These reports support regional cooperation by evaluating digital trade regulations and promoting greater regulatory integration across participating economies. (Live Law)

International Collaboration

The publications were prepared under the ESCAP–ECA–ECLAC Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Integration, a global effort aimed at strengthening digital trade governance.

The project brought together:

• UN ESCAP
• CTIL, New Delhi
• HNLU, Raipur

Through this collaboration, students and faculty worked alongside experts in international trade law to produce research addressing contemporary challenges in digital commerce and international economic regulation. (Live Law)

Research Team

The project was developed through a collaborative model involving both students and faculty members.

Student Researchers

• Sanjana Ramnath
• Dhruvi Agarwal
• Garv Arora

Academic Contributors

• Satwik Shekhar
• Dr. Ankit Awasthi
• Tathagata Choudhury
• Samarth Nayar

The project demonstrated HNLU’s commitment to integrating student-led research with faculty mentorship to produce practical, policy-focused legal scholarship. (Live Law)

Significance of the Project

The successful completion of HNLU’s inaugural TradeLab Project highlights several important achievements:

• Strengthens HNLU’s international research collaborations.
• Expands the university’s contribution to global trade law and digital governance.
• Encourages interdisciplinary legal research.
• Provides students with practical exposure to international policy research.
• Enhances India’s participation in regional digital trade policy discussions.
• Reinforces HNLU’s reputation as a centre for policy-oriented legal research. (Live Law)

About Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU)

Hidayatullah National Law University is a premier National Law University established in 2003 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Named after former Chief Justice of India Mohammad Hidayatullah, the university is recognized for its excellence in legal education, research, and public policy.

Key Highlights

• Established: 2003
• Location: Raipur, Chhattisgarh
• Type: National Law University
• Focus Areas:
  • Constitutional Law
  • International Trade Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • Technology Law
  • Public Policy
• Known for:
  • National and international conferences
  • Research centres focused on emerging legal fields
  • Clinical legal education and policy research
  • Collaborations with international organizations and government institutions
  • Student participation in global legal research initiatives. (Hidayatullah National Law University)

Conclusion

HNLU’s successful completion of its first TradeLab Project represents a major step in expanding its international academic footprint. By collaborating with UN ESCAP and CTIL, the university has contributed to influential regional research on digital trade regulation while providing students with valuable experience in global policy research. The initiative further establishes HNLU as an emerging leader in international trade law, digital governance, and evidence-based legal scholarship. (Live Law)