Pakistan & Indonesia Sign Multiple MoUs to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

Islamabad: Pakistan and Indonesia on Tuesday signed several agreements to boost cooperation across multiple sectors, including Halal trade, small and medium enterprises, higher education, anti-narcotics, and health. The accords were exchanged at a ceremony at PM House during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s two-day visit, following one-on-one and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Agreements included mutual recognition of higher education certificates between Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, the Indonesian Aid Scholarships program, Halal trade and certification cooperation, SME facilitation, archives cooperation, combating illicit drug trafficking, and health sector collaboration.

Read more: IMF Approves $1.2 Billion Loan Program for Pakistan

During delegation-level talks, both leaders emphasized promoting relations in trade, culture, health, education, and vocational training. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s aim to rebalance the $4.5 billion bilateral trade in favor of Pakistan through agriculture exports and IT services and announced sending Pakistani doctors and medical professionals to Indonesia. He recalled the strong historic ties, including Indonesia’s support during the 1965 war, and expressed confidence that the visit would elevate bilateral relations.

President Prabowo Subianto appreciated Pakistan’s hospitality and highlighted shared foreign policy stances, including support for a two-state solution for Palestine. He invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Indonesia at a mutually convenient date.

The visit included a ceremonial guard of honour, national anthems, and the Indonesian President planting a commemorative sapling at PM House. The motorcade route and main avenues of Islamabad were decorated with Pakistani and Indonesian flags. During his visit, President Subianto will also meet President Zardari. This marks the first visit of President Subianto to Pakistan since assuming office and coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.