Dr Pangestu made this revelation in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, when she paid an official visit to the Prime Minister, HE Luc – Adolphe TIAO in his office and delivered the message of Indonesian President to him.
She revealed to HE TIAO “I am moved to contest for the Director–General of WTO not only to inject vibrancy into its operations, but to ensure that all countries in the world no matter their categorisation tap the full benefits of global trading.”
Minister Pangestu assured “I will stoke the global economy furnace in a proactive way to generate global opportunities and shore up intercontinental trade and economy with emphasis on letting the most developed countries realise the potentialities which abound untapped in the least developed countries.”
She said that “ WTO would be globally relevant and indispensable if there is sustained symbiotic economic relationship between the most developed countries and the least developed countries with respect and due cognizance to individual countries assets and resources and faith in all Memorandum–Of –Understanding .”
Minister Pangestu also affirmed that “We must ensure that bi-lateral and multi-lateral business issues are pushed beyond the tables and point of discussion and turned to assets of improving global trading system, generate employment, fight poverty , ginger intercontinental development with direct benefits to the people.”
She said she has made up her mind to ensure a vibrant and efficient turn around in the operation and activities of WTO, this prompted her in taking her campaign for the post to all corners of the world soliciting for support, asking for inputs, rubbing minds with members’ states on how to bring out the best in WTO and urging them to vote for her.
“I assure you once again that I will, if elected continue to strengthen global rules based trading system and prioritize trade and development agenda to increase trade growth, create employment and reduce global poverty.”
Responding, HE TIAO commended Dr Pangestu for bearing the odds and coming out to contest for the post of Director – General of WTO and pointed out the relationship between Indonesia and Burkina Faso which dates back to 1955 during the Asian – African Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia and the visit of the President of Burkina Faso to Indonesia in the mid- 1990 which led to the exchange of rice seedlings between the two countries.
The Prime Minister charged the contestant to let the issue of Africa to be uppermost in her heart if elected as the next Director–General, WTO and assured Pangestu that gender consideration would come to play in the voting pattern during the election time .
He, however, reiterated that though both countries have been benefitting from WTO but said that Burkina Faso would be more interested in completing the Doha round of negotiation, to address the needs of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the issue of cotton subsidies that affected the price of cotton.
Dr Pangestu agreed with the Prime Minister on the importance of the agenda for the Least Developed Countries, adding that if elected, she would ensure the full integration of LDCs into the trading system by ensuring exemptions, transition periods and effective capacity building, including investment on infrastructure.
