London. Indonesia and other member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will continue pushing to solve the Doha Round of the WTO talks to the benefit of all in view of the importance of improving the world business climate.

Speaking in Geneva on Wednesday, Ambassador and Deputy Indonesian Permanent Representative to the WTO Erwidodo said this was the essence of the bilateral meeting between Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and several partners on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Mari Pangestu met, among others, Swiss President Doris Leuthard, Australian home minister Simon Crean, Indian transportation minister Kamal Nath, WTO director general Pascal Lamy, US Undersecretary Robert Hormats and CEOs of a number of multinational companies.

On the occasion, Mari expressed commitment to continue leading the G-33 for progress in negotiations on the agricultural sector.

To deny charges that the G-33 is posing the main obstacle to the settlement of the Doha Round, Indonesia will continue pushing for intensified talks on technical matters between G-33 and exporting countries like the Cairns Group and the G-20.

Indonesia holds an important position as it is a member of the three fora of conflicting interests, the ambassador said.

To answer the concerns of the special safeguard mechanism (SSM), for which the G-33 had been fighting, that might pose an obstacle to world trade, Indonesia, in the name of the G-33, has presented a paper to the WTO secretariat containing thoughts on SSM architecture acceptable to all sides.

Source: The Jakarta Post – 04 February 2010