Indonesia working on starting direct flights from Pakistan, says envoy

ISLAMABAD: Indonesian Ambassador Adam M. Tugio Tugio said Pakistan and Indonesia should work together to increase trade links to the D8 market.

He said that Indonesia is trying to start direct flights to Pakistan and negotiations are going on with the Civil Aviation Authority in this regard.

“It is expected that by December of this year, direct air connectivity will be established between the two great countries of the Muslim world,” he said.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari and other officials, said a press release.

By setting up an Indonesian warehouse in Gwadar, it wants to gain access to Pakistan and Central Asia. There are vast opportunities for improvement of trade relations and investment between the two countries, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bakhtawari said that ASEAN is a huge market for Pakistan, but despite all its efforts Pakistan has not been able to get the status of a full dialogue partner from a sectoral partner and we wish that Indonesia, being a major ASEAN country, plays its role in this regard.

He accepted the ambassador’s invitation to participate in the trade exhibition to be held in Indonesia in October and said the delegation of Islamabad Chamber will fully participate in this exhibition.

He said that the business community wishes to have a free trade agreement with the countries of the ASEAN organization so that both countries get benefits from the long-standing relations established with Pakistan and ASEAN.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI Senior Vice President Faad Waheed said the role of the ambassador is very important in bringing Pakistan and Indonesia closer at the commercial level, and he has performed excellently in this regard by connecting with the business community.

Vice President Engineer Azhar Salam said Pakistan and Indonesia should increase cooperation in the field of research, the increase in scholarship for Pakistani students is welcome.