WT/MIN(17)/ST/5  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6880) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  ENGGARTIASTO LUKITA  
MINISTER OF TRADE  
INDONESIA  
On behalf of my delegation, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to you, Madam Chair, as well 
as the Government and the people of Argentina, for the generous hospitality extended to us, and 
the excellent arrangements made to host this Ministerial Conference .  
 
We would also like to thank the WTO Director -General, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, for his tireless efforts 
and har d work to move the negotiations forward in Geneva.  
 
Indonesia attaches high importance to the open, predictable, rules -based multilateral trading 
system. The Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO has provided a solid ground for this 
organization to und ertake its functions to facilitate all Members to reap the benefits of a 
multilateral trading system. However, the double edge challenge facing the organization these 
days is obvious, too; that is, completing the unfinished business and responding to a new  reality.  
 
In this regard, Indonesia wishes to recall the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration, upon which all 
Members have committed to advance the negotiation on the remaining Doha issues, in particular 
to achieve concrete outcomes on a permanent solution for  Public Stockholding for Food Security 
Purposes and on Special Safeguard Mechanism, at this Ministerial Conference. Members have also 
committed to put the centrality of development and the importance of the special and differential 
treatment at the core of  this work.  
 
Despite those strong written commitments, it is quite regrettable that we are not there yet to 
deliver on what we have agreed in Nairobi. This has only further weakened confidence in the WTO 
at a time when we ought to strengthen it by completi ng the long -overdue work while addressing 
new realities that are not included in the DDA.  
 
Hence, Indonesia calls on all Members to work harder and make the best use of available time 
here at the MC11 to advance the discussions on what we had agreed in Na irobi.    
 
In moving forwards, Members need to bring the Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals 2030  
or SDGs into the equation .  
 
Indonesia believes that t rade has been and will continue  to be the main engine of inclusive grow th, 
development and poverty r eduction. And i n this respect, the Government of Indonesia remain s 
firm to put agriculture and fisheries subsidies as priorities in the WTO 's works, considering their 
strategic roles in economic development, as the main source s of livelihood for most Indonesian 
people, and their critical roles in responding to the challenges of food security, poverty alleviation 
and rural development. The strengthening of agriculture and fisheries sectors on one hand, and 
the achievement of the SDGs  on the other hand, will have a re -enforcing effect .  
 
Indonesia is of the view that development should remain at the centre of our work. Strengthening 
and improving participation of developing countries, including LDCs, in the multilateral trading 
system, would be very critical and offer new opportunities to business as standards of living of our 
people around the globe improved.  
 WT/MIN(17)/ST/5  
 
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  Indonesia also wishes to underscore the importance of WTO regular bodies in overseeing the 
implementation of WTO Agreements, as well as in preventing and resolving disputes. The political 
guidance that would be agreed at this Ministerial Conference should be translated into a "to-do 
list" which is comprehensive yet practical to further strengthen the functioning of these bodies.  
 
Finally, I hope that we can leave Buenos Aires with Members committing to safeguarding and 
strengthening the multilateral trading system with a clear path forward fo r our future work.  
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