KARACHI: (APP) Consul General of Indonesia in Karachi, Hadi Santoso has said the trade volume between Pakistan and Indonesia has doubled to dollars 2.3 billion in last two years; in November 2014 it was dollars 1.6 billion.
"When I assumed charge as the Consul General in November 2014 the trade volume was $ 1.6 billion. Now, it has risen to almost $ 2.3 billion," he said in a meeting with the members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) during his farewell visit to the Chamber.
KCCI statement here on Tuesday said that Hadi Santoso appreciated the support and cooperation extended by the trade and industrial community, particularly KCCI. This helped in achieving numerous objectives throughout his tenure.
President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro, Chairman Diplomatic Missions and Embassies Liaison Sub-Committee Altaf A. Ghaffar, Chairman of Pakistan-Indonesia Business Forum Shamoon Zaki and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present.
Indonesian Consul General Hadi Santoso said he was pretty impressed to see the overwhelming support and cooperation along with the hospitality of the people of Sindh, especially of Karachi who were very keen to strengthen their trade and cultural ties with their brothers and sisters in Indonesia.
He said although trade had been gradually improving but the there was a huge potential to increase the existing trade volume to new heights which could be done through joint efforts. In this regard, the Chambers of Commerce in both countries required to play a more vibrant role which would surely yield positive results.
He was of the view that rapidly boosting bilateral economic ties between Indonesia and Pakistan offered prospects to further forge the bonds of friendship and to establish broad-based commercial partnership.
"Although it is time to say goodbye to my friends and brothers at Karachi Chamber, but no matter wherever posted, I will always be available to you", he said, adding that after spending two years in Karachi, he found himself more a Pakistani than an Indonesian.
Earlier President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, in his remarks, paid glowing tribute to Hadi Santoso for his extraordinary and tireless efforts towards bringing the business and industrial communities of two brotherly countries more close to each other.
Shamim Firpo particularly appreciated the continuous support being extended by the Indonesian government to Karachi Chamber's " My Karachi: Oasis of Harmony" exhibition since its inception in 2004.