KARACHI: Consul General of Indonesia Dr June Kuncoro Hadiningrat has assured to strive hard for further enhancing trade and economic relations with Pakistan by encouraging people-to-people contact between the two brotherly countries and fully facilitating the business community of Karachi looking forward to improve trade and investment ties with Indonesia.
The Indonesian CG, who was accompanied by Consul for Economic Affairs Djumara Supriyadi, gave the assurance at a meeting during a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI).
Dr June Kuncoro was of the opinion that in addition to traditional items being traded between the two countries, lots of opportunities exist for enhancing exports through diversification tradable goods whereas there was a need to discuss and establish cooperation between the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the two countries.
Referring to the statistics of Indonesian Ministry of Trade, he informed that the trade volume between Indonesia and Pakistan has reached to more than US 2.5 billion dollars and there were a lot of areas which can be explored for further enhancement of the existing trade volume.
He said that Karachi city, being the hub of economic activities, and Karachi Chamber were very important to Indonesia as KCCI was an effective platform for further promotion of trade and investment ties between Indonesia and Pakistan.
Indonesian CG also mentioned that a Indonesia-Pakistan portal has also been established to facilitate trade and invited the business community of Karachi to get registered in this portal to find business opportunities in Indonesia.
President KCCI M Shariq Vohra stated that Karachi, being the hub of trade and economic activities, offers profitable investment opportunities and added facilities for trade, investment and joint ventures to Indonesian business and industrial community.
“Karachi city, which contributes more than 70 percent revenue to the national exchequer, is an attractive place for Indonesian businessmen, who can surely earn maximum profits by undertaking joint ventures with their counterparts here”, he said, adding that KCCI was keen to strengthen trade ties and exploring new bilateral trade prospects with Indonesia.
He also appreciated Indonesian government for announcing 1,000 scholarships at 23 top universities of Indonesia offering graduation, masters and PhD courses for Pakistani students which would further improve friendly and cordial ties between the two nations.
President KCCI noted that the bilateral trade between the two countries was in favor of Indonesia as during 2020, Pakistan exported goods worth $194.94 million to Indonesia whereas the imports from Indonesia stood at $2.4 billion.
Highlighting the potential for enhancing bilateral trade relations between Indonesia and Pakistan, he said that the two countries can enhance their bilateral trade by exchanging commodities like maize, wheat, wheat flour, non-manufactured tobacco and ready-made garments while Halal Food industry also holds great potential for enhancing bilateral trade.
“Indonesia along with the ASEAN countries is a huge market with great potential for Pakistani products and the businessmen should focus on these countries to promote trade and exports”, he added.
At the end of the meeting, the Indonesian consul general and president KCCI expressed their commitment to make Indonesia-Pakistan Portal one of the right tools in the “new normal” era with joint effort for the national economic recovery of the two countries after the pandemic.
Senior Vice President KCCI Saqib Goodluck, Vice President KCCI Shamsul Islam Khan and KCCI Managing Committee Members attended the meeting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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