Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan, Iwan Suyudhie Amri, recently invited one of the key authorities in monitoring palm oil products, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA), and a number of business actors in Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province.

A statement from the Indonesian Embassy received by Antara here on Tuesday mentioned that in the meeting which took place on March22-24, the Ambassador held a dialogue with business actors in order to expand market in Pakistan for Indonesian palm products.

The ambassador also sought to strengthen mutual confidence to promote sustainable economic and trade cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan.

"The population of Pakistan is about 207 million and its palm oil needs of more than 80 percent are imported from Indonesia," the Ambassador noted, adding that Pakistan is Indonesia`s important non-traditional trading partner as it is the third largest export market of Indonesian palm products and commodities.

He said the problems regarding Indonesia`s palm products are vary and unique in each export destination country. According to the Ambassador, diplomacy in Pakistan is very important because the country has been contributing to Indonesia`s foreign exchange to more US$1.6 billion.

PFA is considered important as it functions as an authority body for health control of food and beverage products in Punjab Province which is a major area in agriculture, industry and services sectors.

"Punjab has a population of about 110 million people with GDP growth in the last four years averaging seven percent," the Ambassador said.

At a meeting with a PFA leader, Noor ul-Amin Mengal, Ambassador Amri discussed non-tariff barriers to commodities and palm products. In this case, the PFA affirmed that there are no health problems with palm oil from Indonesia.

Indonesia`s success in winning the case on the country`s environmental issues in the European Union and WTO (World Trade Organization) Court assured PFA that Indonesia`s palm oil products have no problems.

PFA recognizes that the problem lies in a process of developing palm oil into Vanaspati Ghee by a number of industries in Pakistan.

PFA has conducted a series of meetings with the industries and asked them to give more attention to public health aspect in making food and beverages.

Mengal said his plan to visit Indonesia to meet with Indonesian oil palm actors and institutions, and is interested in cooperating with the Indonesian Agency for Drug and Food Control (BP-POM).

The Indonesian Embassy also partnered with a number of business actors in an effort to promote business cooperation with the Chambers of Industry and Commerce of Lahore and Faisalabad, and Indonesian product importers.

This partnership aims to foster good relationships with business actors in Punjab and open up opportunities for cooperation to increase business in various other sectors that have not been widely explored.

(KR-LWA/a014)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/A014)

Reporter: SYSTEM
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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