53. The representative of Indonesia said that, as a proponent of document TN/C/W/52, her delegation remained of the view that all Members should take bold steps to address the issue so that the Council not only produced fruitful result but also contributed to substantive progress. Given the fact that the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore was crucial for developing countries, she reiterated the urgency of enhancing disclosure requirements. The implementation of the disclosure requirements would ensure the success of development, as the potential of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge could become one of the key elements for economic welfare for people in developing countries, especially that of mega-diverse countries.
54. As the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization (Nagoya Protocol) had been adopted, she urged all Members, especially those who did not share her view, to seriously consider the importance of the issue and the matter at stake. It would be in Members' best interest to articulate through the TRIPS Agreement the aim to afford sufficient level of protection to genetic resources and to provide a fair practice for their use.
55. Referring to the 20th session of the WIPO's Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), she said that her delegation, together with the group of like-minded countries, had successfully come up with a draft text on the protection of genetic resources. That text was far from complete, since the negotiation on genetic resources, unlike that on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expression, was not text-based, being still considered merely on the basis of draft objectives and principles. Against that background, she viewed the underlying importance of making a concrete connection between the discussions in the Council and in other forums, most notably within WIPO, to be crucial. She informed the Council that the Government of Indonesia would host an international symposium on defensive protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge and folklore back-to-back with the meeting of the group of like minded countries in Bali before the coming summer season.
