Pakistan and Indonesia have renewed their commitment to develop a more sustainable and investment-focused economic partnership during the Indonesia-Pakistan Investment and Business Forum held in Karachi on Tuesday. The event was organised by Indonesia’s embassy in Islamabad and its Consulate General in Karachi, with support from the Indonesia Investment Promotion Centre (IIPC) Abu Dhabi.
The forum gathered government representatives, investment authorities, chambers of commerce, business leaders, investors, and academics from both nations. The opening session included remarks from Indonesia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Lt Gen (retd) Chandra W Sukotjo, Consul General in Karachi Mudzakir, FPCCI Acting President and Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who was the chief guest.
In his welcome address, Consul General Mudzakir described the forum as a key initiative in Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to connect the business communities of Pakistan and Indonesia, aiming to convert commercial interests into practical cooperation. He highlighted Karachi’s strategic importance as Pakistan’s commercial, industrial, financial, and maritime hub, reaffirming the consulate’s role as a facilitator of business information, credible partnerships, and market access.
FPCCI Acting President Magoon emphasised the complementary nature of both economies and the vast potential of a combined market exceeding 520 million people. He called for more diversified trade, enhanced business-to-business collaboration, improved logistics, and steady progress towards establishing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
In a significant development, Ambassador Sukotjo urged the two countries to translate their longstanding friendship into tangible economic outcomes. He described Indonesia as a major market with over 280 million people, a manufacturing hub, an investment destination, and a gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He stressed that a future CEPA should offer a comprehensive framework encompassing trade, investment, services, standards, customs procedures, and supply-chain connectivity.
The Sindh Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, reiterated the provincial government’s dedication to attracting international investment. He highlighted promising sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, healthcare, infrastructure, logistics, digital technology, and data centres. CM Shah encouraged Indonesian businesses to explore partnerships in Sindh and welcomed enhanced collaboration between governments and the private sector.
The forum’s opening ceremony featured the “Resonance of Partnership” gong ceremony, symbolising the mutual commitment of Pakistan and Indonesia to deepen practical economic cooperation. During the business dialogue, Indonesian speakers presented opportunities for investment, trade, and private-sector collaboration.
The event concluded with business networking sessions and discussions aimed at transforming dialogue into concrete partnerships. It reaffirmed the shared goal of both countries to move beyond traditional trade towards long-term investment, value creation, and sustainable economic growth.
