Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): Indonesia and Pakistan are seeking to broaden economic and social cooperation, with Jakarta pushing to upgrade an existing trade pact into a more comprehensive agreement aimed at boosting investment, empowering women and strengthening resilience to climate change.
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti met Pakistan’s First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari in Karachi to discuss expanding bilateral ties and identifying new areas for collaboration between the two countries.
In a statement issued Sunday, Esti said Indonesia hopes to elevate the Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by 2027 to provide a stronger framework for long-term cooperation.
“Upgrading our cooperation from the IP-PTA to a CEPA would give greater certainty to businesses and open new opportunities to increase trade and investment flows between Indonesia and Pakistan,” Esti said during the meeting at Bilawal House.
The talks focused on strengthening cooperation in women’s empowerment, climate resilience, social welfare and sustainable development, as well as deepening people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
Esti said Indonesia and Pakistan share a long-standing relationship rooted in friendship, solidarity and a common commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth, adding that this foundation creates strong momentum for closer ties.
Climate change was also a key topic, with both sides recognizing extreme weather as a shared global challenge requiring coordinated responses and the exchange of best practices.
