Indonesian Minister Discusses Multilateral Trade System In Marocco

London, March 14 (Antara) - Indonesia`s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu has discussed with Moroccan ministers issues on World Trade Organization (WTO)`s multilateral trade system and Indonesian-Moroccan bilateral relations. "In her visit to Morocco, the minister held meetings with Moroccan Foreign Cooperation Affairs Minister Saad El Dine-Otmani, Tourism Minister Lahcen Haddad and Secretary General of the Industry and Trade Department and New Technology El Aid Mahsoussi," the Indonesian Embassy in Rabat said in press statement made available to Antara here on Thursday. The Indonesian minister discussed during the meetings issues on bilateral relations, regional developments, the present and future conditions of WTO after the end of the present WTO director general term on August 31, 2013. The meetings lasted in a positive sphere and condition. Indonesia and Morocco have long historical relations. Both are members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Afro-Asian Conference. The first Afro-Asian Conference was held in Bandung, West Java, in 1955 which called for independence of various countries in Asia and Africa. Morocco gained its independence in 1956 and Indonesian President Soekarno visited Morocco in 1960. Both countries agreed to increase bilateral relations in various sectors such as tourism, investment and trade and to form a joint commission between the two states. During the discussion between Mari and El-Otmani, they agreed the WTO as an institution had provided a significant contribution to a balance and fair trade. Both ministers shared the opinion that development was an integral part of multilateral trade negotiations. The 19th Ministerial Conference of WTO in Bali in December will be an important event for building trust on the multilateral trade system. The success of the 19th ministerial meeting would depend on whether members would conclude an earlier harvest and find a way to the settlement of the Doha Development. In this case, Minister Mari appreciated the role of Morocco as the coordinator in the WTO for the African group of countries. Minister Mari was convinced that the multilateral trade system was a solution to many trade problems in the world. In her meeting with Minister Haddad, both sides agreed to conclude a memorandum of understanding between the two ministries to be signed later this year. The MoU covers cooperation in capacity building, exchange of training and develop connectivity between the two countries. The two ministers also exchange experience in developing sustainable tourism and how to build the quality of tourism. Mari Pangestu is one of the four women candidates for the WTO director general post. Besides the four, there are five other men candidates. If elected as director general, Mari will be the first woman to lead the world trade organization since its establishment. Over the last several weeks, the minister has delivered her vision and mission, including in the WTO General Council meeting in Geneva. She has earlier visited Washington, Beijing, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Cairo, Moscow, Dubai, Abidjan, Abuja and Stockholm.