KARACHI - Indonesia’s Consul General Hadi Santoso on Tuesday said that the Pakistan-Indonesia trade volume has reached almost $2.3 billion, which was $1.6 billion in November 2014.

The Indonesia’s consul general is about to leave Karachi after successfully completing his tenure. He assumed charge as the consul general in November 2014. During his farewell visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Santoso appreciated the support and cooperation extended by the business and industrial community, particularly the Karachi chamber which helped in achieving numerous objectives throughout his tenure.

The Indonesia consul general further stated that he was pretty impressed to see the overwhelming support and cooperation along with the hospitality of the people of Sindh, particularly Karachi who were very keen to strengthen their trade and cultural ties with their brothers and sisters in Indonesia.

He was of the view that rapidly boosting bilateral economic ties between Pakistan and Indonesia offer prospects to further forge the bonds of friendship and to establish broad-based commercial partnership.

Earlier, KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo paid glowing tribute to Santoso for his extraordinary and tireless efforts towards bringing the business and industrial communities of two brotherly countries more close to each other.

Firpo said that trade ties between Pakistan and Indonesia have been gradually improving and it was heartening to note that the current trade volume was above $2 billion but there was a need to look for more avenue of cooperation.

Highlighting some of the potential areas, the KCCI president mentioned that Pakistani leather manufacturers can explore Indonesian market to import cheaper skins and hides, whereas the countries can enhance their bilateral trade by exchanging commodities and the Halal Food industry also holds great potential for enhancing trade.

Firpo particularly appreciated the continuous support being extended by the Indonesian government to Karachi chamber's ‘My Karachi Oasis of Harmony Exhibition’ since its inception in 2004. Indonesian participation every year adds more colors to this glittering event, he added.