ISLAMABAD: Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, said there is significant potential to expand trade, investment, and private-sector cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan.
Widya Putri, who recently visited Pakistan to explore new avenues of trade facilitation, investment collaboration, and private sector partnerships, appeared on Pakistan TV’s programme Beyond Borders and termed her visit “very substantive.”
She said her visit was a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Islamabad on the 18th and 19th of December 2025, when he met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari.
“Indonesia and Pakistan currently record a bilateral trade value of $4.1 billion for the financial year 2024-25, and both sides are seeking to enhance trade going forward,” she said.
Referring to Pakistani cuisine and the increasing demand for edible oil, the deputy minister said Indonesia has been supplying these commodities to Pakistan, which is the third largest destination for Indonesian palm oil exports, making the trade relationship significant. She added that enhancing trade mechanisms could help improve the quality of bilateral trade.
Widya Putri said that during her visit, discussions focused on enhancing the trade partnership by exploring the potential of the services sector from Pakistan to Indonesia, including healthcare professionals such as doctors and dentists, and creating opportunities for Pakistan to provide skilled services to Indonesia.
She said one way to increase the quality of bilateral trade was to enhance existing arrangements.
“Indonesia and Pakistan currently have a preferential trade agreement, and there were talks about potentially upgrading it in the future. President Prabowo had mentioned the need for an upgrade, with a new target of completing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in 2027. There is strong momentum despite global uncertainty,” she added.
Widya Putri said there is growing demand in Pakistan for spices, tea, and other products, and follow-up is necessary to ensure these transactions translate into long-term partnerships.
She also highlighted the potential of the halal industry, noting that Indonesian products, including beauty products, food, and beverages, are already present in Pakistani supermarkets.
During her visit, the deputy minister participated in business forums and B2B meetings, facilitated with the support of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, the Indonesian Embassy, and the Consulate General in Pakistan.
Widya Putri stressed that sustained follow-up is essential to convert discussions into real transactions and long-term partnerships. “Government-to-government engagement must go hand-in-hand with strong private sector participation,” she noted.
She emphasized the role of small and medium enterprises, which contribute 61 percent of Indonesia’s GDP, as well as emerging areas such as Muslim fashion, halal consumer goods, and women’s participation in policymaking and economic leadership.
The deputy minister also highlighted her meeting with Pakistan’s First Lady, Asifa Bhutto Zardari, describing discussions on women’s empowerment and political participation as “inspiring and forward-looking.”
Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri outlined a long-term vision grounded in the historic ties between the two nations, recalling Pakistan’s support during Indonesia’s independence struggle in the 1940s.
“Our relationship is not just transactional; it is built on shared history, trust, and people-to-people ties,” she said.
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