VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Attended by more than 50 state representatives and representatives of industry, international NGOs and international indigenous organizations, Indonesia successfully led international meetings to encourage immediate achievement of intellectual property protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expression (SDGPTEBT). The meeting was opened by the Permanent Representative of Indonesia for the UN, WTO, and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Hasan Kleib.

"Congratulations to Indonesia, which has successfully held activities that are very beneficial for all stakeholders related to negotiating the protection of SDGPTEBT in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The holding of this conference further strengthened Indonesia's leadership in relation to the issue of SDGPTEBT protection which has been proven since 2008 when Indonesia took the role of coordinator of the 58-member Like Minded Group of Countries (LMCs) from Asia, Africa and Latin America ", as stated by the Nigerian delegation representing all Conference participants.

The main objective of the holding of this International Conference is to encourage the ratification of the international agreement for the protection of the SDGPTEBT and to ensure the continuation of the negotiating mandate for ratifying the agreement.

"As a country that is rich in genetic resources (megabiodiverse country) and traditional culture and knowledge, the protection of SDGPTEBT is part of a national priority that needs to be fought for," said Ambassador Hasan Kleib in his opening speech at the international conference.

Indonesia is one of 17 megadverse countries in the world, which has a diversity of flora (more than 20 thousand) and fauna (more than 350 thousand) as well as cultural knowledge and expressions (more than 7 thousand). The value of the global trade in SDGPTEBT annually reaches more than 800 billion US dollars and has the potential to contribute to national economic income. Without the recognition of international intellectual property protection for SDGPTEBT, genetic resource assets and Indonesian culture have the potential to continue to be abused and utilized by foreigners.

The international conference on intellectual property protection for the SDGPTEBT was held in Montreux, Switzerland. Indonesia is one of the key countries negotiating international agreements related to SDGPTEBT at WIPO. Since 2012, Indonesia has served as Deputy Chair of negotiations on SDGPTEBT protection and since 2008, Indonesia has been the coordinator of the Like Minded Group of Countries during the SDGPTEBT negotiations. (Source: Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia Geneva)