ZUBAIR QURESHI
Pakistan and Indonesia on Tuesday reaffirmed commitment to transforming their longstanding bilateral ties into a more balanced, sustainable and investment-driven economic partnership, with both sides calling for accelerated efforts towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost trade, investment and regional connectivity.
The commitment was expressed at the Indonesia–Pakistan Investment and Business Forum held in Karachi, where government representatives, business leaders, investors, trade bodies and academics from both countries discussed avenues for expanding two-way trade and investment.
The forum was organised by the Embassy of Indonesia in Islamabad and the Consulate General of Indonesia in Karachi with the support of the Indonesia Investment Promotion Centre (IIPC) Abu Dhabi.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah attended the event as chief guest, while Indonesian Ambassador Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Chandra W. Sukotjo, Consul General Mudzakir and FPCCI Acting President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon addressed the opening session.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah highlighted Sindh’s vast investment opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, healthcare, infrastructure, logistics, digital technology and data centres. He invited Indonesian investors to explore partnerships in the province and assured them of the provincial government’s full support for investment and business collaboration.
Indonesian Ambassador Chandra W. Sukotjo said the two friendly countries should convert their historic relationship into tangible economic gains. He described Indonesia as a manufacturing hub, an attractive investment destination and a gateway to the ASEAN market of over 280 million people.
The ambassador stressed that a future CEPA should go beyond conventional trade by covering investment, services, customs procedures, standards and supply-chain connectivity, creating a comprehensive framework for long-term economic cooperation.
Consul General Mudzakir said the forum reflected Indonesia’s continued efforts to bring the business communities of both countries closer and convert commercial interest into practical partnerships. He described Karachi as Pakistan’s commercial and maritime hub and reaffirmed the Consulate General’s commitment to facilitating business information, market access and credible partnerships.
Representing Pakistan’s private sector, FPCCI Acting President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon underlined the complementary strengths of the two economies, noting that together they represent a market of more than 520 million people. He called for diversified trade, enhanced business-to-business engagement, improved logistics and early progress towards concluding a CEPA.
A symbolic “Resonance of Partnership” Gong Ceremony marked the opening of the event, signifying the shared resolve of both countries to deepen practical economic cooperation.
During the business dialogue, Indonesian officials presented investment opportunities across manufacturing, healthcare, renewable energy, food security, downstream industries and the digital economy. IIPC Abu Dhabi Director Nova Herlangga Masrie highlighted Indonesia’s investment potential, while Bayu Wicaksono Putro of Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade emphasised the need for diversified trade, better market access and closer cooperation in pursuing a future CEPA.
KADIN Indonesia representative Mufti Hamka Hasan described Pakistan and Indonesia as natural strategic partners with complementary economies. He identified food and agribusiness, halal industries, pharmaceuticals, livestock and the digital economy as sectors with significant potential for collaboration, while also advocating stronger SME partnerships, regulatory cooperation and improved logistics.
The forum concluded with business networking sessions aimed at converting discussions into concrete commercial partnerships. Indonesian officials said they would continue working closely with Pakistani institutions, including FPCCI, KCCI, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Board of Investment and KADIN Indonesia, to promote greater two-way trade and investment.
Participants agreed that Pakistan and Indonesia should move beyond traditional trade relations and focus on long-term investment, value addition and sustainable economic growth through stronger institutional and private-sector collaboration.
