KARACHI - A delegation of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) comprising Senior Vice President KCCI Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi and former President KCCI, Mian Abrar Ahmed visited Indonesia on an invitation extended by the Consulate General of Indonesia in Karachi to look for possibilities of enhancing trade between Pakistan and Indonesia.
KCCI delegation was accompanied by Consul General of Indonesia in Karachi, Hadi Santoso and Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, Rafiq Suleman.
During visit, KCCI delegation visited Depok to attend an information session on Asia, Pacific and Africa which was attended by prominent envoys and around 100 representatives of various business communities from these regions.
Besides promoting KCCI’s forthcoming My Karachi Exhibition, the delegation particularly focused on seeking ways and means of how to promote trade between the two countries.
Highlighting some of the details about the visit on his return from Jakarta, Mian Abrar Ahmed informed that KCCI delegation and Chairman REAP held a meeting with Director General of National Export Development (NED), Nus Nuzulia Ishak and Director NED Dody Edward in which the possibility of enhancing trade by focusing more on diversification of Pakistan’s export to Indonesia was discussed in detail.
Mian Abrar further advised that both countries should not just remain limited to exporting traditional goods only, but must focus on diversifying the product range.
In this regard, Pakistan should focus on exporting textiles, value-added products, lentils, sugar and other commodities which are produced in bulk across Pakistan. He further said that the two countries can also collaborate in defense production.
Keeping in view the high consumption and shortfall of rice in Indonesia, Senior Vice President KCCI, Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi suggested that this was an area which can be prioritised for enhancing trade between the two countries as Pakistan produces high-quality rice, particularly the IRRI-6 which was widely being consumed in Indonesia. However, due to complex procedures, Pakistani exporters have not been able to enhance exports of this important commodity to Indonesia, he added.
In this regard, Kasumbi emphasised that both governments must simplify stringent procurement procedures with a view to enhance exports of Pakistani rice whereas the Indonesian government must also facilitate rice exports from Pakistan as it was much better when compared with the Indian rice which was currently being imported by Indonesia.