. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/24
11 September 2003
(03-4772)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth SessionCancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  English
INDONESIA
Statement by H.E. Mrs Rini M.S. Soewandi
Minister of Industry and Trade
Nearly two years have gone by since the negotiation of the Doha Declaration in Qatar.
During those two years, and indeed for some years earlier, geopolitical tension has complicated the
situation.  Against this backdrop, our efforts to implement the Doha Declaration and to create a better
multilateral trading system have been aimed at creating greater prosperity and better standards of
living, in the belief that these are pre-conditions for peace.  All of us have comm itted to the principle
that an open, fair and predictable system of international trade is required to become the engine and
propeller of economic growth to benefit all.
We are here in this beautiful city of Cancún to take stock of how much progress we have
made.  Developing countries such as Indonesia have a great interest in a number of the topics we willbe discussing.  Indonesia believes that the WTO should be urged to further its works to propel the
world economy forward.  We highly appreciate the great efforts expended by so many Member States
of the WTO, despite an often dangerous and uncertain international climate, to improve and broaden the
multilateral trading system through the Doha Development Agenda.
Let me address the basic issues at stake here.  It is no secret that there is a sense of grave
disappointment, with the process particularly among, but not limited to, the developing world.  Thereare widely different perspectives on many of the issues that face us.  Paramount among these, is a
growing awareness that the developed nations seem to have little, or no concern, for the poverty that
continues to plague the developing world.  In this context, I therefore like to touch upon the issue of
illegal logging which adversely destroys forest and the environment.  This situation is tightly
related to poverty.  Why are our people destroying forests?  The answer is obvious.  Because ourpeople are poor.  Many of those engaged in the illegal timber trade are poor farmers.  They have
turned to stripping the forests near their communities, because agriculture is not enough to support
their families.  I believe that one of the root causes of poverty, is the refusal of the developed nations
to provide fair trading systems that would allow our people to, live decent lives without recourse to
destruction of their own habitats.  Here today, we are turning this position around, and demandingof the developed world, genuine efforts to create a clear, fair and balanced multilateral trading system
that will help to raise the general level of well being of our people.
Let me turn now to some specific issues.  The agriculture sector is of fundamental importance
to many nations represented here today.
Moreover, certain agricultural products cannot be considered as purely commercial
commodities.  It is very obvious that recognition of special and differential treatment - and
implementation - for developing countries is a priority .  It is imperative to have flexibility to declare
certain strategic or special products and a special safeguards mechanism for the purposes of foodsecurity, poverty alleviation and rural development. I therefore strongly request that special product
and special safeguard mechanism concepts to be adopted in this important meeting.WT/MIN(03)/ST/24
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Equally important is the issue of market access for non-agricultural products.  The problems
are that Members still maintain long lists of products subject to tariff peaks, high tariffs and tariff
escalation.  Indonesia believes that improved and secured access to markets is a pre-requisite for
development strategies, whereby Indonesia relies to a large degree on external trade.  We fullysupport the process towards securing a framework for further negotiations and strongly emphasize
that these should fully reflect the requirements of developing and less-developed countries which
resulting in a balanced outcome with those of developed countries.
On issues under TRIPS, we welcome the very recent agreement in Geneva that would allow
developing countries to provide low-cost medicines to their people to treat diseases such as malaria,
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other rampant problems.  In this and in other similar situations,we believe a humanitarian standpoint has to be adopted, and not a purely commercial one.  Most
importantly, my delegation would stress the importance that a higher level of protection should
also be given to other products which are now only given to wine and spirits under geographical
indication.  We wish that this protection be extended to traditional knowledge such as batik
Solo, jamu, Toraja coffee, basmati rice, and many others.
Indonesia urges this Conference of the World Trade Organization to reflect on the current
situation and to compare it with the lofty goals set at Doha.  Indonesia urges this Conference to begin
to genuinely work to achieve those goals.
Finally, I would like to thank the Government and people of Mexico and the Organizing
Committee for their efforts in hosting this event and for their warm hospitality.  My sincere
appreciation also goes to the Chairman, for his wisdom in providing a genuine forum for discussion of
these issues.  I can assure you, Mr Chairman, of Indonesia's full support in your efforts to guide us
through the deliberations ahead of us.
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