Indonesia friendship night: bilateral economic ties increased in last four years: envoy

Ambassador of Indonesia Iwan Suyudhie Amri has said that bilateral economic relations between Pakistan and Indonesia have increased during the last four years. Talking to guests at Friendship Night Dinner, the ambassador said that bilateral trade volume increased from $1.6 billion in 2012 to $2.1 billion in 2016. Indonesia Embassy has arranged the Friendship Night Dinner here which was attended by business community, educationists and others.
The ambassador further said that the Indonesian government had also invited Pakistani business community to export not only Pakistani mangos and oranges but also meat too. Citing an example of fruit export, he said that a single company last year exported 300 containers of oranges to Indonesia which was likely to increase to 2,000 containers during next years.
He further said the government of Indonesia had relaxed its requirements for visa for Pakistani citizens and during the first eight months of 2017, the Embassy approved 2,407 visas, added the issuance of visas by the Embassy of Indonesia increased from 2,040 visas in 2013 to 2,919 visas in 2016.
He said the validity of passport was reduced from 18 months to six months, adding that consular fees would be charged in rupees in near future. Talking about visits of leaders of both countries, he said Pakistani Presidents Ayub Khan, Asif Ali Zardar, Mamnoon Hussain and others regularly visited Indonesia which showed strong friendly ties between two countries. He further said that two sides were also cooperation in energy, education and other sectors.