Under the Indonesian Children’s Friendship Program, 28 students from Pakistan will be given scholarships on merit through a scholarship scheme. We will work together to improve the balance of trade between Pakistan and Indonesia.
Dr. June Kuncoro Handiningrat, Consul General of Indonesia in Karachi expressed his views while addressing the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) during a lunch-on-meeting at KATI. KATI President Salman Aslam, Senior Vice President Maheen Salman, Standing Committee Chairman Rashid Siddiqui, Former President Masood Naqi and Johar Qandhari besides Consul of Indonesian Economic Affairs Djumara Supriyadi were also present on the occasion.
The Consul General of Indonesia added that Pakistan is the hub of Central Asia together with Indonesia both these countries have the largest Muslim population. He said that investors and traders of both countries could provide cheap items to the pilgrims on the occasion of Hajj.
The Consul General of Indonesia said that the Indonesian Promotion Center has been set up at the Consulate in Karachi to promote friendly relations with Pakistan and also launched the Indonesia Pakistan Portal to facilitate Pakistani traders and tourists in Indonesia. He said that every effort would be made to promote bilateral trade so that Indonesian investors could visit Pakistan and explore investment opportunities.
Earlier, KATI President Salman Aslam said that Pakistan was the main importer of edible oil and paper from Indonesia. While there were two trade agreements between Pakistan and Indonesia in which 232 products could be traded. However, there is no trade balance between the two countries. Pakistan’s imports are high while Indonesia’s imports from Pakistan are very low. He urged Indonesia to take advantage of the opportunities available in Pakistan and take steps to balance the trade. President KATI Salman Aslam further said that raw material of Pharmaceutical Products should be exported from Indonesia so that both the countries could benefit from it.
Rashid Siddiqui, Chairman, Standing Committee of KATI, said that it’s been 72 years since the friendly relations between Pakistan and Indonesia. But there is a difference in trade between the two countries, lack of business-to-business interactions has made things even worse. He stressed that there is a worldwide demand for leather, rice, orange, mango and other products from Pakistan which can be exported to Indonesia. He also suggested that single country exhibitions be organized between the two countries so that investors and traders of both the countries could be aware of the opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion, former president of KATI, Masood Naqi said that various decisions are taken to promote trade between the two countries but there is a lack of follow-ups. He said that joint efforts should be made to facilitate traders of both the countries so that investment and trade can be enhanced. He lauded the Indonesia-Pakistan portal set up by the Consul General and termed it a good gesture.
