He was talking to University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf and students during his visit to National Institute of Food Science and Technology UAF. Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences UAF Dean Dr Masood Sadiq Butt and DG NIFSAT Dr Nuzhat Huma and other spoke on the occasion.
The ambassador also stressed the need to enhance bilateral relations particularly in the fields of trade, culture, education and people-to-people contacts.
He said palm oil production was important to economy of Indonesia as the country was one of the biggest exporters. He said Indonesian Bogor Agricultural University and University of Agriculture Faisalabad would further enhance research an academic ties to boost the academic and industrial linkages.
He said both countries had the similarities in the culture and way of living. He said Pakistan had been producing one of the best mangoes and rice and his county is importing it. He said that share of the Indonesian agriculture sector in the Gross Domestic Product is near to Pakistani share of agriculture sector to GDP.
Dr Muhammad Ashraf said Indonesia and Pakistan strengthened relations would help address the common challenges and to get benefit from each other experiences. He said Indonesia and Pakistan cemented educational and research relations would pave the way for the development and uplift. He said the academia-industry strengthened ties would help raise income of people, and way of living and to meet the challenges of the modern era.He urged the researches to work on the real issues of the common man. He said that the food security was one of major concerns for both countries. He said like Pakistan, Indonesia is also focusing on agricultural country.
Dean Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that UAF in collaboration with Indonesia particularly food industry would pave the way for further the prosperity. He added that his faculty is coming up with out-of-the-box solutions to the problems of the industry and common man.