'Businessmen should exploit Indonesian market'

Indonesian Charge d' Affaires Samsu Rizal has urged the Pakistani businessmen to take full advantage from big market of Indonesia. He stated this while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, here on Thursday. LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz, Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir, Vice President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi and others also spoke on the occasion.
The diplomat said that there is dire need to enhance bilateral trade as Pakistan and Indonesia are potential markets. Pakistani rice and meat have great demand in Indonesia, therefore, Pakistani businessmen should avail this opportunity, he added. He said LCCI is playing a significant role to strengthen the trade and economic relations between the two countries. He thanked LCCI for expressing good wishes for the Indonesian ambassador who lost his life in a tragic incident.
While speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz said, "Indonesia and Pakistan have old historical links and enjoy cordial relations. The people of both countries are close to each other and share special bondage of friendship and companionship."
We are important trading hubs in our respective regions. We are sovereign and democratic countries with abundantly available labour force, natural resources and potential to grow, he added. LCCI chief further said that the imports from Indonesia to Pakistan registered a significant increase from US 1.2 billion dollars in 2013 to 2.1 billion dollars in 2014. He said that the sole reason was 100 percent increase in the import of palm oil from Indonesia which doubled from US 700 million dollars to 1.4 billion dollars in one year. Pakistan's exports to Indonesia fell from US 144 million dollars in 2013 to 138 million dollars in 2014, he added.
LCCI president said, "Indonesia has given market access under Preferential Trade Agreement only to kinnow that is why things are not moving in favour of Pakistan. Please also include carpets and surgical items in it. We seriously require your guidance and co-operation to cause a turnaround in the present scenario." There is a lot of scope for Indonesia to make investment in Pakistan. Indonesia has a fairly advanced petrochemical, rubber, plywood, telecommunication and tourism industries. Indonesia can make direct investment in these industries and can also enter into joint ventures with Pakistani counterparts, he added.