Pakistan and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to forging a more sustainable and investment-oriented economic partnership at the Indonesia-Pakistan Investment and Business Forum held in Karachi on Tuesday.
The forum – organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Karachi, with the support of the Indonesian Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) Abu Dhabi – was attended by government officials, investment authorities, chambers of commerce, business leaders, investors and academics from both countries.
The opening session witnessed remarks by Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Lt Gen (retd) Chandra W Sukotjo, Consul General Karachi Mudzakir, Acting President and Senior Vice President FPCCI Saquib Fayyaz Magoon and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah who were present as the chief guest.
In his welcome speech, Consul General Mudzakir described the forum as part of Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to connect the two countries’ business communities and translate commercial interests into practical cooperation.
He highlighted Karachi’s strategic position as Pakistan’s commercial, industrial, financial and maritime hub, and reaffirmed the role of the Consulate General as a facilitator of business information, credible partnerships and market access.
The FPCCI Acting Chairman highlighted the complementary strengths of the two economies and the vast potential of a combined market of over 520 million people.
Magoon called for more diverse trade, stronger business-to-business collaboration, improved logistics and continued progress toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Ambassador Sukotjo, in his opening speech, urged the two countries to turn their long-standing friendship into tangible economic results.
He described Indonesia as not only a major market of more than 280 million people, but also a manufacturing hub, an investment destination and a gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
He stressed that a future CEPA should provide a comprehensive framework covering trade, investment, services, standards, customs procedures and supply chain connectivity.
The Sindh Chief Minister reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to attracting international investments.
CM Murad also highlighted opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, healthcare, infrastructure, logistics, digital technology and data centers.
The Sindh CM urged Indonesian businesses to explore partnerships in Sindh and welcomed closer cooperation between governments and the private sector.
The opening ceremony of the forum was marked by the “Partnership Resonance” gong ceremony, symbolizing the two countries’ common commitment to deepening practical economic cooperation.
During the business dialogue, Indonesian speakers presented opportunities for investment, trade and collaboration with the private sector. The forum concluded with business networking and discussions aimed at translating dialogue into concrete partnerships.
He reaffirmed the shared commitment of Indonesia and Pakistan to move beyond traditional trade towards long-term investments, value creation and sustainable economic growth.
