New Delhi: India and other developing countries like Brazil and China have found an ally in Australia in firmly demanding improved market access for trade in agriculture, services and industrial production from the developed nations.

"A successful outcome from the Doha Development Agenda would provide greater access for services, the fastest growing sector in the world, which accounts for 40-60 per cent of incomes in developing countries," said the document "Australia and Doha Development Agenda: Promoting Growth and Development", released by the Australian Government.

Developing countries could gain up to $ 130 billion annually from services liberalisation, it said, adding Australia has taken a leading role in addressing barriers to the trade of agricultural exports and other services.

Pointing out that no other sector of world trade is as distorted as agriculture, the study said OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries transferred $ 318 billion in support and protection to agriculture (i.e. subsidies, tariffs, payments and other transfers) in 2002.

"To put this spending into perspective, total agricultural support and protection is approximately five times annual aid flows to developing countries, or twice the value of agricultural exports from all developing countries," the Australian Government document said.