ISLAMABAD (Yaseen Hashmi): Pakistan and Indonesia have agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation, with a particular focus on rice exports, agriculture and key economic sectors, officials said on Tuesday.

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review opportunities for enhancing trade ties and sectoral collaboration.

During the meeting, Jam Kamal highlighted Pakistan’s evolving trade strategy, noting that rice remains a priority export. He said Pakistan is among the world’s leading producers of high-quality rice but faces pricing pressures in global markets due to international competition. The government, he added, is working on financial and trade measures to improve competitiveness while maintaining quality standards.

The minister proposed cooperation under open market and government-to-government frameworks and stressed reviving the Pakistan–Indonesia Rice Cooperation Framework. A rice memorandum of understanding signed in 2015, which allowed up to one million metric tons of annual G2G supply, expired in 2019. Pakistan has shared a revised draft and expects early finalization.

Discussions also covered agricultural exports, particularly kinnow oranges, energy, biodiesel, minerals, infrastructure and special economic zones. The Indonesian envoy welcomed Pakistan’s proposals and assured that trade and market access issues would be conveyed to Jakarta. Both sides agreed to strengthen engagement through joint committees and trade forums to translate friendly ties into tangible economic outcomes.