August 21, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-us-Sani 22, 1424

KARACHI, Aug 20: Indonesian Trade and Industry Minister Ms Rini M. Sumarno Soewandi on Wednesday asked businessmen from Pakistan to become partners in developing a free industry.

Addressing the members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry here, she said: “The government of Indonesia is creating a favourable industrial and economic landscape within which industry can operate freely and Pakistan’s business community is welcome to become partners in it.”

She also invited the businessmen to attend Indonesian Solo Exhibition at Sharjah, UAE, from Sept 16-20 and 18th Resource Indonesia at Jakarta from Oct 15-19 so that bilateral trade between two the countries increased.

Indonesia can supply a broad range of agricultural products, particularly palm oil vegetable fats and oils, natural rubber, animal and vegetable oil and coca, she said.

Referring to her countries industrial and trade policy, the Indonesian minister said actions were taken to revitalize the industrial economy and particularly sectors which were labour extensive and much importance was paid to export oriented industries.

Indonesia continues to abolish all types of exclusive permits and business monopolies that may have created inefficiency in the Indonesian economy, besides reducing import tariff and duties to level of zero to five per cent, remove non-tariff barriers, she said while explaining Indonesian trade policy.

Pakistani business community can explore investment in industrial sector, including food processing, pharmaceutical, chemicals, wood, furniture, pulp and paper, electronics, automobiles, textiles and garments, while in service sector have prime opportunities in trading, transportation, warehousing, telecommunications, recreational and entertainment services, she said.

The Indonesian minister also applauded the proposal by Pakistan to establish CEP (Closer Economic Partnership) with Indonesia and said still there were more ways to strengthen business ties.—APP