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Indonesian CG woos Pak investors

SUKKUR: Indonesian Consul-General at Karachi, Ali Ardjoeno, has called upon the investors of interior Sindh to take advantage of the investment-friendly climate in his country.

He said Indonesia also offers lucrative market for rice and dates.

He assured the traders and exporters that Karachi Consulate was ready to issue them trade visa on urgent basis within 24 hours for finalising bilateral trade deals.

Temu Alam, Vice Consul General of Indonesia, who read out his consul general's written text at a dinner meeting hosted by Senior Vice-President Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry S. Naqib H. Musavi on Thursday night, said despite its big trade volume, Pakistan's exports for Indonesia in 1998-99 remained US $166.00 billion, while a small country like Bangladesh had made export to the tune of US$184.23 billion.

The consul general could not attend the Chamber's dinner due to his indisposition and was represented by Temu Alam, consul economic.

Temu Alam said rice was the main demand of Indonesia, which could be easily captured by Pakistani exporters however they would have to show a better quality.

He said Indonesia consulate was ready to extend maximum help to Pakistani traders and exporters.

He disclosed that Indonesia consulate was arranging a trade exhibition for Pakistani traders and exporters at Karachi in May-June 2000 where they would be provided with fullest details and the idea for promoting their exports for Indonesia

The Consul-General said that the two countries had traditional old religious and cultural ties, and both had achieved their freedom after hard fought struggle, against foreign domination.

Earlier, Naqib H. Musavi, in his address of welcome while giving a brief resume of Sukkur's industrial activity, talked of good prospects of exports of dry date, dates, vegetables, fruits, rice, wheat bran, pulses and bone meal for Indonesia, as well also about setting up joint ventures in Sukkur's Industrial area.

Gifts of traditional Sindhi Ajraks and Caps were also presented to the members of Indonesian delegation.

The Indonesian delegation also included Vice Consul (Visa) Iswayudha, Vice Consul (Administration) Soonardi, Consul (Economic) Temu Alam, Vice Consul Commercial Kureowibowo, and Secretary Rehman Qureshi.

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Kalimullah Lashari thanked the Indonesian diplomats for visiting Sukkur which he was confident would further cement the ties between the two countries.ÑAPP