Karachi (TDI): Pakistan and Indonesia strengthened their economic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the Indonesia–Pakistan Joint Trade Committee (JTC).
The JTC will be an institutional platform to enhance trade dialogue, facilitate cooperation, and jointly address opportunities and challenges in bilateral trade.
The MoU was signed following high-level talks led by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and visiting Indonesian Vice Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esty Widya Putri.
The development coincided with a reception hosted by the Consulate General of Indonesia in Karachi in honor of the Indonesian Vice Minister, which was attended by senior government officials and representatives of the business community from both countries.
During the talks, the Commerce Minister underscored Indonesia’s strategic importance within ASEAN, highlighting its potential role as a regional hub for fostering trilateral and regional economic cooperation.
He emphasized that Pakistan could serve as a reliable source for minerals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agri-food commodities for the Indonesian market.
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The Minister also conveyed Pakistan’s intention to organize a Single-Country Exhibition and Business Forum in Jakarta, with invitations to be extended to ASEAN member states, aimed at showcasing Pakistani products and strengthening regional business linkages.
The Chief Executive of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) sought Indonesian facilitation for the early announcement of fruit import quotas, rationalization of certification requirements for Pakistani exports, notification of rice import quotas, and improved market access for industrial-grade potatoes from Pakistan.
Both sides agreed to work jointly toward expanding the existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), with the shared objective of progressing toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to unlock greater trade and investment opportunities.
Addressing the gathering, the Federal Minister for Commerce thanked the Indonesian side for organizing the reception, noting that such engagements provide an important opportunity to project Pakistan’s economic strengths, diversity, and true image beyond conventional narratives. He said positive developments in bilateral relations deserved wider visibility at both national and international levels.
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Highlighting the significance of palm oil in Pakistan’s economy, the Minister noted that imported edible oil, primarily from Indonesia, forms an essential part of Pakistan’s food chain and daily life, and appreciated the continued contribution of Indonesian and Pakistani stakeholders to sustaining bilateral trade.
He further observed that Pakistan and Indonesia enjoy deep-rooted relations, strengthened by frequent high-level exchanges, which demonstrate the importance both countries attach to expanding trade and economic cooperation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Indonesian Vice Minister of Trade recalled 75 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Indonesia and expressed appreciation for mutual respect and continued cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
She reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to deeper economic ties and trade partnership, and welcomed closer cooperation through the newly established Joint Trade Committee.
With bilateral trade already exceeding $4 billion, both countries reaffirmed their strong commitment to further strengthening Pakistan–Indonesia relations, anchored in political trust, growing economic cooperation, and people-to-people linkages.
