In recent years Indonesia and India have enjoyed new energy in relations between the two countries and a new sense of confidence, and deepening cooperation.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi emphasized India's commitment to taking the comprehensive strategic partnership with Indonesia to a higher level.

PM Modi made the remark in a joint press statement after holding a bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his delegation at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (July 7).

"In recent years, Indonesia and India have enjoyed new energy in relations between the two countries and a new sense of confidence, and increasingly deeper cooperation," Modi said.

PM Modi further said that the comprehensive strategic partnership agreed upon by the two countries in 2018 continues to develop through strengthening cooperation in various fields, from defense, development, technology, culture, to education.

According to him, the meeting with President Prabowo is expected to be a new milestone that would further strengthen relations between the two countries.

"We are taking important paths in increasing cooperation in defense, development, technology, culture and education. I am sure that today's (July 7) meeting will mark a new beginning in the partnership between Indonesia and India which will have a positive impact," he said.

In the security and defense sector, PM Modi said that the two countries agreed to increase cooperation in exchanges in the fields of defense, disaster management, industry, as well as strengthening collaboration on maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

As two neighboring maritime countries, the two countries also agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of the blue economy, port development and maritime trade, he said.

PM Modi also emphasized that improving people's welfare is one of the main focuses of cooperation between Indonesia and India.

India has the same lunch program and distribution to the public in Indonesia. And now the two countries are increasing this cooperation to a higher level, he noted. PM Modi said that the agreement signed by the two countries is expected to expand Indonesian people's access to quality health services.

Quality and affordable medicines from India will be increasingly available to Indonesian citizens, he said.
In the technology sector, the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications, digital infrastructure and the development of the startup ecosystem, he said, adding that the Bangalore Institute of Management would also open a campus in Indonesia.

This initiative will bring great benefits to people in the ASEAN region, Modi expalined.

He pointed out that cooperation in strengthening the supply chain in the important mineral and steel sectors, integration of the Indian Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment system with the Indonesian payment system, as well as cooperation in preserving cultural heritage through the Prambanan Temple conservation project which will be inaugurated with President Prabowo in Yogyakarta.

According to Modi, India is very pleased that UPI from his country will be integrated with the payment system in Indonesia. This is expected to encourage ease of doing business and ease of travel.

PM Modi expressed his belief that relations built on shared cultural heritage, mutual trust and a vision of prosperity would bring great benefits to both nations while supporting the realization of a Golden Indonesia and a developed India.

He noted that the history of Indonesia and India is rooted in the shared culture, and their presence, mutual trust and future would also be characterized by shared prosperity.

Reporting by Indonesia Window