By Naveed Miraj and Shahid Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, Charge d’Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad has said that Indonesia and Pakistan have significant untapped opportunities in trade and investment. He expressed these remarks during an event organized to celebrate the Anniversary of 79th Indonesia’s Independence Day at the Islamabad on Thursday.
Indonesia’s Independence Day
The diplomat invited the Pakistani business community to attend the Indonesia and South and Central Asia Business Forum (INASCA) on 7 October 2024 and the Trade Expo Indonesia on 9-12 October 2024.
He said, “Both have been brothers and sisters from the beginning as reflected by the friendly relations between the founding fathers of the respective countries, President Sukarno of Indonesia and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah of Pakistan”.
He said that the deep connections between the two great leaders as well as the current diplomatic and political ties between the two nations, shall be continuously converted into more solid works.
He said that the Embassy of Indonesia has approached various Pakistani businessmen to build more economic interaction with Indonesian businessmen.
He added that they have good relations and understanding with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business communities in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. He added that they wanted to further extend economic relations between the two sides.
The Ambassador said that the two brotherly countries have many similarities in many areas, as the two largest Muslim countries in the world and the family members of democracy in the world.
Pakistan’s Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada was the Chief Guest on the occasion. State Minister for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik was also present on the occasion.
The Indonesian diplomats, and their families attired in traditional dresses and colourful ethnic outfits, brought an energetic and authentic Indonesian ambiance to the event. The venue was beautifully decorated with floral arrangements, as well as cultural ornaments, which further enriched by posters of the founding fathers of the respective both nations, President Sukarno of Indonesia and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah of Pakistan. The decorations seamlessly blended symbolism and aesthetics, celebrating the shared values of the two great nations.
New Nusantara, Advanced Indonesia
The theme of the reception was “New Nusantara, Advanced Indonesia”, which referred to the current massive development on infrastructure and connectivity across the Indonesian archipelago, including the Indonesian new Capital City of Nusantara (IKN).
In his turn, Minister Pirzada said that Indonesia and Pakistan are two brotherly countries that share firm views on regional and international issues as members of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international organizations. He said that on behalf of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he conveyed congratulations to Indonesia on its 79th Independence Day.
Fashion Show
Another main attraction was the “Saman Dance” from Indonesian Province of Aceh performed with rhythmic precision by dancers seated in a row. The participants were the Indonesian students in Islamabad.
One of the highlights of the evening was a captivating fashion show, showcasing Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage. Traditional costumes with distinct textiles, colors, motifs, and symbolic designs enchanted the audience, offering a vivid glimpse into the country’s diverse traditions.
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Secretary of Asia Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Atajan Nurlevich Molamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan, Haji Kamal Bashah Bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam, Chair of ASEAN Committee in Islamabad, Ambassadors, High Commissioner, Chargé d’ Affaires of ASEAN Member States to Pakistan also attended the event.
