REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia is optimistic that the upcoming Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO MC9) in Bali can come up with an agreement that will restore the Doha Round negotiation, which was suspended in 2001.

"We have a prepared the so-called Bali Package, which includes three elements in it, namely trade facilitation, agriculture and benefits for least developed countries," Indonesian Trade Ministry Director General for International Trade Imam Pambagyo said here on Tuesday.

He argued that the package, if agreed upon, will restore trust among member countries towards the international trade system, which has suffered since 2001.

Indonesia is currently preparing to host the WTO MC9, which will be held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from December 3-6. Participants will include trade ministers and officials from 159 countries.

Earlier, Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krishnamurti said the success of the upcoming Bali meeting is important. "If the WTO fails, every country in the world will have to fight for its interests on its own. No international trade system means that political and trade powers will take over, and only the strongest country will win," he said.

The WTO is an international organization in which member countries have agreed upon regulations in conducting international trade. Though it is a multilateral trading system with non-discrimination principles, WTO has been trying to reduce trade barriers and encourage member countries to conduct fair trade throughout the world.

Apart from that, the WTO also has an effective legal instrument, the "dispute settlement" facility, where it bridges the difference between those countries seeking to resolve conflicts.

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