Pakistan and Indonesia on Tuesday agreed to enhance institutional engagement to promote bilateral trade and development. The countries plan to hold early meetings of the Joint Trade and Development Committee and various trade forums to maintain momentum.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Indonesia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo. During the discussion, the commerce minister briefed the ambassador on Pakistan’s evolving trade strategy, focusing on improving rice exports and price competitiveness without compromising quality.
“Pakistan remains among the world’s leading rice exporters, offering internationally recognized quality,” the minister said. Both sides recalled that a rice memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2015 allowed up to one million metric tons of rice procurement annually on a government-to-government basis. This MoU expired in 2019. Pakistan has shared a revised draft with Indonesia and hopes for its early finalization to institutionalize long-term cooperation in rice trade.
The minister also highlighted challenges in agricultural exports, particularly kinnow. He said Pakistan is awaiting Indonesia’s import quotas to ensure uninterrupted seasonal exports. Delays in quota issuance, he warned, could result in losses for growers and exporters.
The Indonesian ambassador welcomed Pakistan’s proposals and appreciated the positive momentum created by recent high-level exchanges. He assured that issues related to rice cooperation, agricultural market access, and trade facilitation would be communicated to Jakarta. The ambassador also emphasized Indonesia’s strong interest in food security, diversified sourcing, and competitive pricing.
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Both sides agreed to strengthen institutional engagement through early meetings of the Joint Trade and Development Committee, trade forums, and virtual consultations. Officials said these measures aim to maintain steady cooperation and expand long-term trade opportunities between Pakistan and Indonesia.
