By Muhammad Luqman
Indonesian ambassador in Pakistan, Iwan Suyudie Amri has said that the preferential trade agreement signed between Islamabad and Jakarta has started yielding positive results, taking the volume of bilateral trade beyond US$ 2 billion mark.
“ We want that the trade between the two brotherly countries should be true reflective of the warm relations,” Iwan S. Amri said during his visit to Made in Faisalabad Exhibition in eastern city of Lahore on Saturday.
He said that Indonesia has allocated a higher quota of white rice imports from Pakistan under the preferential trade agreement.
As per agreement, eight Pakistani rice exporters got orders for 6,250 tonnes each, totalling 50,000 tons after the bidding process.
“This single transaction will be worth around $22.5m,” the envoy said.
It is expected that after the notification of an additional 20 tariff lines, which include Pakistan’s top export potential by the Indonesian authorities, exporters of these products will benefit from it.
The notification of the 20 tariff lines will be issued by the Indonesian authorities after completing official formalities.
Kinnow exports have already increased due to longer available time limit for exports allowed by the Indonesian authorities this year.
The PTA, signed in February 2012 and operationalised in September 2013 will bring more opportunities for the Pakistani exporters, helping reduce trade deficit between the two countries, Iwan S. Amri hoped.
On ban imposed by Food Authority , the food security watchdog of central Pakistan province of Punjab, the envoy said that he had a meeting with the director general of PFA, Noorul Amin Mengal in Lahore.
“ We have made the Punjab authorities aware that the palm oil is healthy and safe food. Noorul Amin Mengal seemed convinced of the healthy aspects of the palm oil,” Iwan S. Amri said.
He said that interaction would continue between Punjab Food Authority and Indonesian Food Authority.
