Indonesia, India deepen strategic partnership ahead of Modi visit

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and India agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership in trade, investment, strategic industries, as well as maritime and digital connectivity at the 8th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in New Delhi, India, on Sunday.

The meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also as part of preparations for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia in July.

"The partnership between Indonesia and India must result in more concrete and mutually beneficial cooperation," Sugiono said in the Ministry of Foreign's press release in Jakarta, Monday.

The ministers discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which encompasses defense, security, maritime affairs, trade, health, food security, digital connectivity, science and technology, tourism, and culture.

Several priority agendas were also discussed, including accelerating negotiations on a preferential trade agreement (PTA), developing digital payment connectivity, cooperation in strategic industrial downstreaming, restoring Indonesian cultural heritage, and education and training for health workers.

As countries located along strategic sea trade routes, Indonesia and India also share a shared vision for strengthening maritime connectivity, including through the potential development of Sabang Port. These efforts are expected to boost bilateral trade, which reached USD23.16 billion (about Rp420 trillion) last year.

Beyond trade and investment, they discussed strengthening food and energy security, with India expressing interest in receiving fertilizer supplies from Indonesia.

Cooperation in the health and financial sectors was another key focus. The two ministers exchanged views on opportunities to integrate digital payment systems through collaboration between Indonesia's QRIS and India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

At the regional and global levels, Indonesia and India discussed geopolitical developments affecting the global economy and the role both countries can play in maintaining stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

The JCM is a bilateral forum at the foreign ministerial level and was first held in Yogyakarta in 2003. The 9th JCM is scheduled to take place in Jakarta.

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and India have existed since 1949. Both countries were founding participants in the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955 and the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961.The close relationship continues to this day.

One of the latest developments is Indonesia's accession to BRICS in 2025, which has opened further opportunities for strategic cooperation with India across various sectors.

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Translator: Asri Mayang Sari

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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