Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Trade, through the Trade Policy Agency (BKPerdag), is taking part in developing mitigation and adaptation strategies to deal with climate change through the Action on Climate and Trade (ACT) program.

Head of BKPerdag Kasan stated that trade practices related to climate issues are starting to emerge and are making countries in the world, including Indonesia, need mitigation and adaptation.

"The ACT program is here to provide mitigation and adaptation strategies related to climate issues," Kasan noted in a statement from the Ministry of Trade in Jakarta, Tuesday.

"(This is) so that countries in the world can continue to compete in global trade by fulfilling their Nationally Determined Contribution commitments," he remarked.

Kasan explained that ACT is a program initiated by three international institutions, namely the World Bank, World Economic Forum (WEF), and World Trade Organization (WTO), which was officially launched on April 20, 2023.

The ACT program in Indonesia will last for six to nine months, with the stage of submitting an initial commitment document (Letter of Intent or LoI) by the Indonesian government in early April of 2024.

"The ACT program will begin with the implementation of a scoping mission visit that will take place on May 6-14, 2024," Kasan remarked.

"Next, it will continue with the finalization of the terms of reference (ToR) for ACT activities as well as the implementation of a discussion forum or workshop in November 2024," he stated.

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Kasan added that ACT-initiating institutions have their respective roles.

World Bank has a role in conducting analysis, while the WEF holds discussion forums and workshops, and the WTO partakes in providing data and information.

Meanwhile, BKPerdag has a role in collaborating with the World Bank, WEF, and WTO. Apart from that, BKPerdag also coordinates with related ministries and institutions.

Indonesia and Rwanda are the countries involved in the first phase of the ACT program this year.

The analysis results compiled from the ACT program are expected to strengthen Indonesia's position as a regional leader in the Asia-Pacific region in handling trade issues related to climate change.

According to Kasan, two main aspects that need to be highlighted in the ACT program are transparency and confidentiality.

Transparency is the key in preparing analysis that suit the needs of Indonesia's climate and trade flows, while confidentiality is important to protect the country's interests.

"We need to pay attention to what is written in ACT's terms of reference. It needs to have a clear understanding from the ACT initiating institutions regarding the information and series of activities that will be implemented," he remarked.

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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Cindy Frishanti Oct
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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