ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has directed officials to devise a strategy to boost bilateral trade with Indonesia, state-run media reported on Thursday, as Islamabad gears up to welcome President Prabowo Subianto to the country later this month.
Pakistan and Indonesia have attempted to bolster their economic ties through trade and investment over the years. The two countries signed a Preferential Trade Agreement in 2012 that became operational in September 2013, allowing for concessional market access to 232 goods from Pakistan such as fresh fruits, cotton and fabrics, and 313 from Indonesia, such as edible palm oil products, sugar confectionaries and cocoa products.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Subianto will be in Pakistan later this month an official visit to the country.
“The minister directed the relevant authorities to formulate concrete proposals to enhance trade relations, emphasizing the need to strategically target the Indonesian market to showcase Pakistani products effectively,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
Iqbal was speaking to officials while he chaired a meeting of a committee constituted by Sharif to enhance bilateral cooperation and trade between both countries ahead of Subianto’s visit.
“This landmark visit will open new avenues for trade and cooperation, further strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Indonesia,” APP quoted Iqbal as saying.
“Indonesia has successfully integrated its cultural diversity into a unified identity. We can learn from their model.”
Iqbal stressed collaboration with Indonesia in the education, health, information technology and tourism sectors. He also suggested providing scholarships in IT and health care sectors to students from both countries.
In October last year, Pakistan and Indonesia signed bilateral trade pacts and memorandums of understanding worth $10.7 million during an Indonesian trade expo.
According to the Pakistan Business Council, the trade relationship between Pakistan and Indonesia holds significant potential for growth, with opportunities for increased cooperation in areas like agriculture, textiles, and energy.
Pakistan eyes enhanced trade with Indonesia ahead of its president’s visit
https://arab.news/4jdgc
Pakistan eyes enhanced trade with Indonesia ahead of its president’s visit
- Indonesia’s president is expected to visit Pakistan later in January to discuss trade, bilateral issues
- Planning minister calls for cooperation with Indonesia in education, health, information and tourism
Pakistan extends bid submission for new PSL teams citing interest from Middle East, Europe
- Pakistan has invited bids for two new PSL teams for upcoming edition of the tournament
- Pakistan Cricket Board extends bid submission deadline by a week to Dec. 22, says chairman
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to extend the deadline to submit bids for two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams due to “growing interest” from investors in the Middle East, US and Europe, chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday.
The PSL is Pakistan’s flagship Twenty20 league held every year featuring six teams, each representing a different city of Pakistan. It includes national as well as international cricketers.
PSL 11 is expected to begin in April and May next year, and will see two new teams added to the current roster of six PSL teams. Pakistan kicked off the process to invite bids from investors for two new PSL teams for the upcoming edition of the league last month.
“Witnessing growing interest from the Europe, USA, the Middle East and beyond in acquiring new HBL PSL teams, we have decided to extend the bid submission deadline by one week to 22 December 2025,” Naqvi wrote on social media platform X.
https://x.com/mohsinnaqvic42/status/1999510948311347476?s=46&t=_sd6Jiyhge2j48w9Ld4HwA
“Good luck to everyone excited to welcome our new franchise owners to the HBL PSL family.”
The PCB organized a roadshow this week in London to attract international investors. The roadshow featured former cricket stars Ramiz Raja, Wasim Akram and the PCB’s top hierarchy, including Naqvi.
The roadshow also featured star cricketers Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, who spoke about their journey so far and how the league has transformed their lives.
In an earlier statement, the PCB released a list of cities that potential owners could name their new teams after.
Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi are the new potential cities, from which two will be chosen for the upcoming edition of the tournament.
The list of teams that are already part of the PSL are Multan Sultans, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars.
