FARUKH SHEHZAD

Jakarta, DEC 17: The government has said it will stick to its current mobility restrictions during the year-end holidays, despite having recently reported the country’s first known case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. 

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said the government would continue to implement multi-tiered public activity restrictions (PPKM) in accordance with the pandemic situation in each region.

“We will ensure that PPKM is implemented in the regions according to their level [of risk]. [Although] these levels are adjustable, we will not ease the prevailing curbs until January,” said Ma’ruf on Friday.

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Courtesy thejakartapost

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan, Adam Mulawarman Tugio on Sunday has said that Indonesia has set US$50 billion e-commerce trade target by 2025 to connect with the biggest sector of global trade.

There are vast opportunities in e-commerce trade between Pakistan and Indonesia, which will increase bilateral trade and investment opportunities on both sides, Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan, Adam Mulawarman Tugio said.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan and Indonesia are countries with large youth populations that can make their mark in the global e-commerce trade and create vast employment opportunities in both the countries.

He said that global retail e-commerce sales in 2020 stood at US$ 4.28 trillion, which is expected to reach US$ 5.4 trillion by 2022. He said that there is an era of Information Technology (IT) and online connectivity in the world and now the big global brands are connected to small and big markets and are continuing their business activities.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan and Indonesia can be linked with e-commerce trade to increase bilateral trade as well as connect both sides’ youth in connection of business and trade. With such connections, young people from both the countries and people can benefit from each other’s experiences and skills to promote economic and cultural integration.

He said that e-commerce integration in both the countries could also help in promoting tourism in both of countries and strengthen the ties between the people of both countries.

Tugio said that Pakistan and Indonesia are among the most beautiful countries in the world and with the promotion of tourism in both countries mutual economic activities would reach its peak. He said that the two countries have similarities in many areas, including religion, culture, architecture, landscape, and cuisine which must be familiar to the people of both countries.

Replying to the question, he said Indonesia had made investments in Palm oil in Karachi which would enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, adding that in the near future while taking interest in investing in Faisalabad, steps would be taken for this in the near future.

Responding to another question about Indonesia’s rapid economic growth and economic reforms, he said Indonesia was the first to work on Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and business facilitation, which encouraged foreign investors.

The Ambassador said a number of achievements had been achieved following the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) targets and then there was the devolution of power in Indonesia for strengthening of the local body system, which led to a strong federation.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan and Indonesia had strong prospects for the proposed bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which would help strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries. The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) already existed in both the countries which opened up the possibility of increasing bilateral trade, he said.

The Ambassador said Indonesia had recently reduced trade tariffs for facilitating to Pakistan in 20 trade items in the bilateral PTA review. The Ambassador said Indonesia had a strong role to play, adding, progress was being made to enhance economic and trade integration between Pakistan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Discussing the cultural and educational ties between the two countries, he said 11 percent of scholarships were awarded to Pakistani students this year, which was 52 percent of developing countries. He said this year 60 Pakistani students went to Indonesian universities to study.

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JAKARTA, NOV 4: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has proposed that Indonesian Army chief of staff Gen. Andika Perkasa should succeed Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto as Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, as the latter enters retirement age on Nov. 8.

The nomination was confirmed in a presidential letter sent to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, quashing all speculation that a candidate from the Navy (TNI-AL) might take over the reins of the nation’s armed forces.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, House Speaker Puan Maharani confirmed that the Jokowi administration had submitted a letter seeking the House’s approval to make Andika the next military commander.

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Courtesy thejakartapost

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• Pakistani students are the biggest recipients of Indonesian scholarships: Adam Mulawarman Tugio  

• Panelists mentioned that Pakistan provides the ASEAN regional states the shortest route to global sea trade

RAWALPINDI, NOV 2: Young Scholar Discussion on the topic “Pakistan-Indonesia Bilateral Ties: Exploring Untapped Potentials” was jointly organized by Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad and The Embassy of Indonesia, Pakistan at Rawalpindi.

Adam Mulawarman Tugio, Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan in his Keynote address stated that this debate will open up new avenues for the students of Indonesia and Pakistan. 

The main aim of such discussions is to provide exposure to the students that will enhance their communication, analytical and critical skills.

Ambassador of Indonesia also stated that such initiatives alleviate bilateral relations between the two countries and boosts people to people contact. He further stated that Pakistani students are the biggest recipients of Indonesian scholarships.  

Ambassador of Indonesia appreciated the efforts of CGSS in organizing activities for the students for the enhancement of their soft and communication skills. 

Ambassador stated that Pakistan and Indonesia should collaborate more at Think Tank level. There are several prospects for collaboration at academic and institutional level.

Adam Tugio also stated that this event can be considered as an exercise where the youth can provide their input on how both the countries can further cement their bilateral relations.

Brig. Abid Hussain Bhutta (Retd), Member Board of Experts CGSS in his address stated that Pakistan and Indonesia have tremendous potential which have grown with the passage of time. 

Pakistan and Indonesia have enhanced their cooperation and have become strength of each other. He further stated that people to people contact is the foundation of strength of relations between two countries.

The discussion was based on three main themes which were

•             Pakistan and Indonesia: Ideas for Strengthening Bilateral Ties

•           Using Media as a Tool for Public Diplomacy: Case Study of Pakistan and Indonesia

•             Pakistan-ASEAN: Shared Future and Way Forward.

Students of Bachelors level from Indonesia and Pakistan participated and shared their analysis with the audience. During the discussion, young scholars mentioned that Pakistan and Indonesia’s bilateral relations are deeply rooted in mutual respect and support at regional and global level. 

Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Indonesia the foundation of which was laid by late President Sukarno and his contemporary leadership in Pakistan including Quaid-e-Azam. Late President Sukarno provided unprecedented support to Pakistan in the past. 

Discussing Pakistan-ASEAN Relations, panelists mentioned that Pakistan provides the ASEAN regional states the shortest route to global sea trade. Pakistan and ASEAN agreed to cover cooperation in many areas including trade; industry; investment; environment; science and technology; drugs and narcotics; tourism and human resources development.

Young scholars also discussed that bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When states recognize one another as sovereign states and agree to diplomatic relations, they create a bilateral relationship.

Public diplomacy is no longer defined as intergovernmental diplomacy, but can become P2P or people to people because the implementers and targets of public diplomacy can become public itself. 

It was also discussed that ASEAN’s success as a regional organization and East Asia’s undisputed economic potential have long been recognized, with states from different parts of the world wishing to strengthen their engagement with ASEAN. Pakistan is no exception. In line with Pakistan’s “Vision East Asia” policy, Pakistan has worked tirelessly to forge a closer partnership with ASEAN.

The debate was moderated and supervised by Laraib Fatima Hassan, Communication & Coordination Executive, CGSS, and Mr. Boy Dharmawan, Minister Counsellor/Political Function, The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Islamabad. The event was attended by 80 participants.

Following young scholars from Pakistan and Indonesia participated:

a.            Fina Farhani

b.            Tata Auniyrahman

c.             AcyntyaPararsa

d.            Fuji Vikriansyah

e.            IhzaKaustar

f.             Naufal Laudza

g.            Zohra Asif, International Islamic University, Islamabad

h.            Aneesa Abid, Bahria University, Islamabad

i.          KainatSaif , Student of Law at  International Islamic University, Islamabad

j.             Ehsan Khan, Punjab University, Lahore

k.            Sumayya Khan, Bahria University, Islamabad

l.              Haleema Asad, Bahria University, Islamabad

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