The WTO director-general also said even if India pursued bilateral trading pacts with the United States and the European, it would still have to open up its markets for their products and services, the Press Trust of India reported.

"(Indian) Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is perfectly legitimate in the assessment he is making," Lamy said when asked to comment on Nath's statement that there was "no offer" at the WTO talks which collapsed this week in Geneva.

"But so are those on the other side ... We must look at the bigger picture," the news agency quoted Lamy as telling a private Indian television network in an interview.

Talks ended in a stalemate after the United States refused to make substantial cuts in farm subsidies, drawing strong reactions from developing nations such as India and Brazil and even the European Union.

Lamy told the NDTV network that while developed countries must make more concessions than developing nations, advanced developing countries such as India, China and Brazil should also do more than poor developing countries.

"India must also look at the big picture given its size, potential and record in terms of modernisation," he said.

Reacting to reports that India would continue bilateral talks with the United States and was working on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with European Union, he said India would still have to give greater market access to these countries.