Ambassador Highlights New Cooperation Areas
India's Ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit (July 6-8) to Indonesia will deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Speaking to ANI, Chakravorty emphasized that the visit will expand cooperation across key sectors and send a strong message of collaboration amid geopolitical uncertainty.
He noted that India and Indonesia share historically strong and friendly ties, and this marks PM Modi's fourth visit to Indonesia since coming to power. The ambassador said, "Our ties have been historically very strong, very cordial and friendly. Prime Minister Modi's visit will further intensify those ties and build cooperation in many areas and open up new areas of cooperation, whether it is in manufacturing, science and technology, space, nuclear, or even educational exchanges."
Multifaceted Relationship Amid Global Turmoil
Chakravorty added, "It is a multifaceted relationship, and I think in the current geopolitical context where there is so much turmoil in the world, India and Indonesia working together, I think, gives a strong message to the world."
Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, covering sectors including health, agriculture, food security, science, technology, space, pharmaceuticals, education, manufacturing, and critical minerals. The ambassador elaborated, "There will be agreements in the health sector, in agriculture, in food security, in science and technology, space, pharmaceuticals, education, in manufacturing, in critical minerals. So there are many, and I think Prime Minister Modi's visit will open up new chapters of cooperation. It will give a boost to what is happening already."
Boosting Governmental and People-to-People Ties
He expressed confidence that the visit would strengthen ties at all levels. "The base with Indonesia is strong, and his presence here will give a further boost to whatever is happening, not only at the governmental level but also at the business-to-business level, at the people-to-people level, and I am very, very confident that you will see a greater intensification of our ties after the visit," Chakravorty added.
Prime Minister Modi departed on Monday for a six-day visit (July 6-11) to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. He stated that the high-level engagement would reinforce India's Act East Policy, advance its "MAHASAGAR" vision, and deepen the country's commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
First Bilateral Visit Since Strategic Partnership Upgrade
The first leg of the visit is to Indonesia from July 6 to 8 at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto. This is the Prime Minister's fourth visit to the maritime neighbor and the inaugural bilateral visit since the relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2018. PM Modi recalled that the two democracies elevated their ties during his 2018 visit, and this marks his first bilateral visit since then, following President Prabowo's high-profile visit to India as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations in January 2025.
During his schedule, he will interact with the Indian diaspora and accompany President Prabowo on a visit to the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta, a UNESCO-listed site symbolizing deep cultural links between the two nations.
Defence and Maritime Cooperation
This visit marks a pivotal milestone in reinforcing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with advancing defence and maritime cooperation as a cornerstone of the bilateral agenda. Strategic security ties have achieved robust momentum, characterized by an expanding scope of high-level visits, regular bilateral and multilateral exercises, and deeper defence industry cooperation, including the significant sale of BrahMos missiles.
As immediate maritime neighbors, both democracies previously adopted the Shared Vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in 2018. To provide further impetus to collective maritime domain awareness, an Indonesian Liaison Officer is being stationed at the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in India. Furthermore, New Delhi will earmark dedicated training slots for Indonesian cadets and officers at the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) to bolster long-term defence capacity building.
Economic Collaboration and Trade
Economic collaboration remains positioned to drive growth through expanded trade and mutual investments. Strong institutional synergies have emerged between the respective long-term developmental visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Emas (Golden) Indonesia 2045. Indonesia has established itself as India's second-largest trading partner within the ASEAN region, with bilateral trade reaching USD 24.78 billion during the 2025-26 fiscal year. Currently, more than 130 Indian enterprises maintain active investments across diverse sectors of the Indonesian economy.
Food Security and Critical Minerals
Addressing regional food stability, the two allies are building resilient food security cooperation. India has actively extended support to Indonesia's primary food security priorities, notably through the critical supply of 100 tonnes of high-quality "DWR 162" wheat seeds. This forms part of a broader, sustained engagement aimed at developing resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
Critical mineral cooperation is also set to take centre stage during the bilateral talks. Indonesia dominates the global critical minerals sector, commanding roughly 21 per cent of the world's nickel reserves and ranking prominently among the top global producers of copper, bauxite, and tin.
