Pakistan Indonesia Relations need to grow into economic fields as well says Indonesian Ambassador

 

H.E. Mr. Adam Mulawarman Tugio, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Pakistan addressed the members of Karachi Council on Foreign Relations and highlighted the cordial historic links that existed between the two countries.

The Ambassador applaud on the role of KCFR deliberating inputs to the Government of Pakistan on ongoing policy issues in various fields of interest.

In line with this and the current Aman Exercise 2023 in Karachi, Ambassador mentioned that the two countries have venues of cooperation in defence such as peace keeping operation where 50 % OIC countries have conflict situation. He underscored that both brotherly nation had many mechanisms to further strengthen bilateral relation.

Like newly signed mechanism was Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Bali last year. JMC allowed both Foreign Minister to exchange ideas and meet at regular basis in order to stocktaking progress of bilateral cooperation and define strategic direction to deepen bilateral relation. Ambassador commended Pakistan effort to encourage trade between the nation.

However, the trade imbalance has been a major issue which the two countries have to work together.

He stated that Pakistan has full potential to develop its economy due to its geostrategic location where Pakistan can serve as trade hub to land locked countries in Central Asia. Indonesia can be a gateway for Pakistan business connecting to potential ASEAN member countries (AMS).

Ambassador stressed the need for Pakistan to focus on individual AMS trough institutional collaboration and bilateral process. With these 2 approaches may increase presence in ASEAN.

He further emphasised the important of connectivity as one of the priorities of the vision of ASEAN Community. More than 50 BRI projects in ASEAN have been connected with AMS through land and sea.

He pointed out the need for Pakistan to integrate with FTA to gain benefits as ASEAN is a spaghetti bowls of trade mechanism. Ambassador mentioned the economic potentials of halal market of D8 countries consisting of 8 Muslim majority countries spanning from Asia to Africa, from South Asia to Middle East which just concluded PTA among themselves. Pakistan can also benefit in exploring science and technology cooperation amongst OIC members as COMSTECH in Islamabad.

He continued with the tourism industries in both countries where Pakistan has lots of tourism spots range from beautiful landscapes and religious tourism as Pakistan have Buddhism and Islamic beautiful architectures. The Envoy encouraged youth in Pakistan to take benefit of scholarships being offered by universities in Indonesia.

The Ambassador was asked by Mr. Farooq Afzal as to when Free Trade Agreement will be singed which is pending since long, as after signing the FTA Pakistan would be able to get more access to the Indonesian Markets for our traditional products i.e. Textiles, Surgical Goods, sports goods, leather goods, fruits and vegetables etc.

The Ambassador replied that both the countries are working in the field also and Indonesia also wants to have trade balance between both the countries as at the moment trade was greatly in favor of Indonesia mainly due to Palm oil imports from his country and Pakistan’s exports are far too low.

He said that Pakistan’s Trade Minister Naveed Qamar was also in support of FTA but now Pakistan has to take the initiative to discuss about FTA with the Indonesian officials to make it happen and that Indonesia is waiting response from Pakistan.

In response to another member of KCFR, Mr. Kalim Farooqui who told him that he had traveled extensively in Indonesia and even met at that time the Minister for Science & Technology, Mr. Bacharuddin Habibie, who later became President of Indonesia, he was an engineer and he too wanted collaboration with countries like Pakistan in the field of Science & Technology. Who too wanted that both the countries cooperate in this important field as both have talent second to none.

The meeting was concluded with KCFR’s Chairman Admiral Khalid M. Mir who recounted the historic links between the two countries.