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Indonesia, Pakistan hold first Joint Commission Meeting
Indonesia and Pakistan held their first Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) early this week in Bandung, West Java, to foster bilateral relations
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Indonesia and Pakistan held their first Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) early this week in Bandung, West Java, to foster bilateral relations.
"The main purpose of the meeting was to expand bilateral economic and trade relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries in several sectors," Junaid Iqbal Ch., acting secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and head of the Pakistani delegation, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday in Jakarta.
The Indonesian delegation was headed by Indonesian Foreign Ministry's director general for Asia-Pacific and African affairs Primo Alui Joelianto. The meeting was held July 7-8, 2008.
The Foreign Ministry's director for South and Central Asia, M. Asruchin, said the meeting was successful.
"We are satisfied with the outcome. We both agreed to enhance our cooperation in the fields of trade, agriculture, education and defense," Asruchin said.
Iqbal agreed with Asruchin.
"We were happy about the meeting. We also agreed to enhance people-to-people contacts and to encourage cultural cooperation between the two friendly nations," Iqbal said.
Pakistan asked Indonesia to reduce tariffs on its oranges, said Iqbal.
But, he immediately added, once both countries conclude a preferential trade agreement (PTA), the tariffs on goods can be reduced significantly.
In 2005, Indonesia and Pakistan signed the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership (FACEP).
"FACEP is an umbrella agreement, whose framework will lead to agreements like a PTA and, finally, a free trade agreement between Pakistan and Indonesia," Iqbal said.
Indonesia is planning to ratify the FACEP this year.
Pakistan Ambassador to Indonesia Maj. Gen. (ret) Ali Baz said both countries already have an "excellent" relationship.
"Our trade is also growing. The JCM will certainly strengthen our relations further," Ali Baz said.
Last year, he said, bilateral trade reached almost US$1 billion.
"There is a huge potential to double the trade between the two countries in the coming years," he said.
When asked why none of the ministers from either country attended the JCM, Asruchin said it was mainly due to their busy schedules.
"We have been trying to organize this meeting for more than two years. Due to scheduling problems, we were unable to finalize it. In the end we decided to host the meeting at the senior official level," Asruchin said.
