Pakistan and Indonesia edged closer on a Pakistan Indonesia free trade agreement and on direct air links after Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, welcomed a visiting Pakistani business delegation at Trade Expo Indonesia 2026 in BSD City, Jakarta.
FTA talks and air connectivity
The meeting took place during the five-day, 41st edition of Indonesia’s main trade exhibition. Widya Putri called Pakistan a reliable trading partner and said an FTA—a deal that would lower barriers to commerce—and better flight links were among the top priorities for trade, investment and travel between the two countries.
“We are negotiating on the FTA, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is also on board in this regard. We hope to begin technical negotiations soon,” she said.
She pointed to the Joint Trade Committee already set up between the two sides and said the focus should be on turning existing plans into real results. She also argued that direct flights would make trade missions, tourism and investment visits easier.
Who met in Jakarta
Indonesia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo, led the Pakistani business group. Participants included Haseeb Khan, nominee for honorary consul of Indonesia in Punjab (Lahore), and business representatives Sajjad Wali, Ansar Hayat, Ibrahim Tawab, Ibrar Rathote and Humair, among others.
Widya Putri welcomed the honorary consul nomination for Lahore, describing the city as a major commercial centre and urging stronger ties with firms based there. She encouraged Pakistani companies to use the expo to meet buyers and explore partnerships across more industries.
The ambassador likewise pressed for trade that goes beyond palm oil, still a large part of commerce between the two countries. He said the delegation had signed five memoranda of understanding in different sectors, including spices and business incubation, and noted that about 70 Indonesian pilots and aviation professionals work with Pakistani carriers such as AirSial and SereneAir.
New sectors and what comes next
Delegation members called for joint ventures, technology transfer, stronger institutional links and dedicated channels to connect companies. They flagged interest in Indonesian coffee, coal and nickel, and in Pakistani exports such as onions. Humair stressed cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises—smaller firms that often need help to enter foreign markets—and business incubation. Representatives associated with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted pink Himalayan salt and sought closer work on power and energy. Ibrahim Tawab separately linked direct air connectivity to tourism, including travel to destinations such as Bali.
Widya Putri said Indonesia also wanted more SME linkages and cooperation in energy and tourism. The Pakistan Indonesia free trade agreement talks, together with the push for air links, framed a shared interest in a broader, more practical commercial partnership—though no final FTA text or new flight schedule was announced at the expo.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan aur Indonesia tijarti muahide (FTA) par baat kar rahe hain, jisse dono mulkon ke darmiyan saman ki aamad-o-raft aasan ho sakti hai. Abhi seedhi flight ka koi naya elaan nahi hua, magar dono taraf iski zarurat batayi gayi. Jakarta ke trade expo par Pakistani business log gaye aur kuch MoUs bhi hue. Agar yeh rabte aage badhe to exporters, chhote karobar aur tourists ke liye mauqe barh sakte hain.
