QUETTA: Charge d’affaires of Indonesia to Pakistan Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma has said that the current annual trade of $45 million between the two countries is much less than its potential which needs to be further increased.

Speaking at the Quetta Press Club during his visit on Monday, Mr Kusuma said economic diplomacy and people-to-people contact is the main priority of the Indonesian government and “our arrival in Balochistan is a part of this agenda”. 

He said there was a lot of potential in the business sector, media and civil society in Balochistan, which can prove to be an important factor in the relations between Pakistan and Indonesia.

He said his visit to Balo­chistan aimed to increase relations with the local business community and private sector.

“We have invited the business community of Balochistan to participate in a trade expo to be held in Indonesia in October this year,” Mr Kusuma said, adding that this expo is one of the biggest business activities in the world in which businessmen, traders and industrialists from 116 countries will participate. 

He said 400 Pakistani students are studying in Indonesia on scholarship and this number can be increased.

In response to a question, he said that there are opportunities for students of Balochistan to study in Indonesia and get scholarships.

He said a scholarship quota can be allocated for the students of Balochistan.

Mr Kusuma said that Indonesia and Pakistan are bound in historical religious and cultural ties and so are “our economic and trade relations”. He said the media of both countries should play their role in strengthening the bilateral relations.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2024