Pakistan, Indonesia set to discuss defense, investments as President Prabowo arrives in Islamabad
Publishing date: 08 December 2025
Published in: Arab News
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a two-day visit aimed at exploring new avenues of cooperation in trade, defense, investment, health, education and other sectors, state news agency APP reported.
This is Subianto’s maiden trip to Pakistan and the first visit by an Indonesian president since 2018. He touched down at Nur Khan Airbase alongside a high-level delegation of ministers and senior officials, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Jakarta.
During his stay, Subianto will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and will also meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
“Both countries will hold comprehensive discussions on promoting cooperation in various fields including trade, investment, defense, health, IT, climate, education and culture, as well as further strengthening partnership at regional and global levels,” APP reported.
Indonesia hosts a small Pakistani expatriate community, engaged mainly in restaurants, hand-knotted carpets, gemstones, textiles and herbal products.
As of fiscal year 2024-25, trade between Pakistan and Indonesia surged to $4.7 billion, up from $3.36 billion the previous year, highlighting a sharp increase in economic exchange between the two nations.
Under the existing Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement, operational since 2013, Pakistan exports cotton fabrics, cereals and other commodities to Indonesia, while Indonesia supplies Pakistan with palm oil, coal and other imports.
With both governments now negotiating the upgrade of the agreement to a full free trade accord, Islamabad and Jakarta aim to further deepen trade, investment, and economic cooperation across multiple sectors.