Pakistan and Indonesia Strengthen Cooperation Across Trade, Education and Health
ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation and expand ties in trade, health, agriculture, IT, science, and education. They also reaffirmed close coordination on regional and international issues, especially the situation in Palestine.
Focus on Trade and Economic Balance
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Islamabad, the prime minister said Pakistan and Indonesia aim to boost trade, which currently stands at $4.5 billion, with palm oil making up more than 90% of Pakistan’s imports.
He said both sides discussed ways to correct the trade imbalance by increasing Pakistan’s exports, particularly in agriculture, IT-driven projects, and value-added sectors.
Sharif also offered to send Pakistani doctors, dentists, medical teachers, and health experts to Indonesia to meet the growing needs of Indonesian hospitals and universities. He said Pakistan would extend full support without delay.
Shared History and Global Concerns
Sharif recalled that Pakistan and Indonesia have enjoyed strong ties for over 75 years, noting that their relationship predates Pakistan’s independence. He said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had supported Indonesia’s independence movement, and Indonesia backed Pakistan during the 1965 war.
On global issues, he praised Indonesia’s consistent position on Gaza and stressed that the world must act urgently to stop the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Indonesian President Highlights Strong Partnership
President Subianto thanked Pakistan for the warm welcome and noted that his aircraft received an escort from the Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder jets.
He said the bilateral talks were productive and resulted in agreements in trade, education, agriculture, science, and technology. He described Islam as a religion of moderation and said both nations share a deep, historic friendship.
Subianto welcomed Pakistan’s offer of medical support, calling it strategic and essential for Indonesia. He instructed Indonesian ministers to fast-track implementation of joint projects.
He also emphasised strong coordination on foreign policy, especially on Palestine, and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to a two-state solution.
Broad Review of Bilateral Relations
Earlier, delegations led by Sharif and Subianto reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan–Indonesia relations. Both sides expressed commitment to strengthening cooperation in political, economic, defence, security, health, education, agriculture, and environmental sectors.
They agreed to elevate bilateral ties into a “dynamic and forward-looking partnership.”
Agreement to Review Preferential Trade Pact
Both countries welcomed the recent rise in bilateral trade and agreed to review the Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (IP-PTA) to expand trade volume, currently at around $4 billion, and address the existing imbalance.
They placed special focus on the halal industry, agricultural commodities, information technology, and technical and vocational education.
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