Modi, Prabowo power up India-Indonesia ties

By Asia Samachar  | Indonesia |

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have moved to deepen their countries’ strategic partnership, with agreements spanning defence, critical minerals, agriculture, maritime security and emerging technologies.

Modi, who arrived in Jakarta on Monday (July 7) for the first leg of a three-nation tour from July 6 to 11, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Istana Merdeka, where he held restricted and delegation-level talks with Prabowo. The discussions covered trade and investment, agriculture, food security, healthcare, defence, maritime cooperation and digital technology.

“Over the past few years, India-Indonesia relations have acquired new momentum and greater depth,” Modi said in a social media post after the talks.

He added that both countries had agreed to work more closely in areas such as space, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure and other emerging technologies.

The two leaders also witnessed the conclusion of a series of agreements and initiatives, including cooperation on the BrahMos missile system and an air-to-air missile agreement.

Other areas covered included medical products regulation, minerals and steel supply chains, disaster management, health workforce collaboration and the development of rare earth magnets.

The two sides also agreed to establish the first international campus of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore at the Singhasari Special Economic Zone in Malang, aimed at serving students and professionals from Indonesia and the wider ASEAN region.

Beyond strategic and economic ties, Modi highlighted the deep cultural links between India and Indonesia. After watching a Wayang Kulit performance of the Ramayan, he described it as “a moving reminder” of how their shared civilisational heritage had travelled across seas and generations.

Modi is also scheduled to visit the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta with Prabowo.

Indonesia is the first stop on Modi’s tour, which also includes Australia and New Zealand.

In February, Modi held a two-day official visit to Malaysia, his first since Malaysia and India elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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