Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held wide-ranging bilateral talks in Jakarta on Tuesday, agreeing to expand cooperation across defence, maritime security, trade, technology, healthcare, agriculture and emerging technologies, while reaffirming their shared commitment to peace, prosperity and a free, open Indo-Pacific.
The meeting at Istana Merdeka, the Presidential Palace, marked PM Modi’s first bilateral visit to Indonesia since the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. During the visit, Indonesia also conferred its highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia, on PM Modi in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral ties.
Addressing a joint press statement after the talks, PM Modi thanked President Prabowo for the warm welcome and said the bilateral relationship had entered a new phase of growth.
“Last year, we had the privilege of welcoming him as the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations. Today, I am delighted to be visiting Indonesia at his gracious invitation,” he said.
Referring to the civilian honour conferred on him, the Prime Minister said, “This morning, I was deeply honoured to receive Indonesia’s highest civilian award with great warmth and affection. This honour belongs to the millions of people of India. It reflects the sentiments of the people of Indonesia and symbolizes the historic and close bonds between India and Indonesia. I sincerely thank President Prabowo, the Government of Indonesia, and the people of Indonesia for this honour.”
Highlighting the growing partnership between the two countries, PM Modi said, “Over the past few years, India-Indonesia relations have gained new momentum, greater trust and deeper engagement. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2018 has now entered a new phase of growth. We are making significant progress in every sector, including development, security, technology, culture and education.”
Expressing optimism about future ties, he added, “I am confident that today marks the beginning of a golden chapter in the India-Indonesia partnership. This new chapter will have a profound and positive impact not only on the 21st-century world but on all of humanity.”
The Prime Minister said the two countries had agreed to strengthen defence exchanges, disaster management and industrial cooperation while expanding maritime collaboration.
“The growing trust between our two countries is strengthening our defence, security and maritime cooperation. Today, we agreed to enhance cooperation in defence exchanges, disaster management and industrial collaboration,” he said.
He added that both countries’ coast guards would work together to enhance maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean and that they had also decided to strengthen cooperation in the blue economy, port development and maritime trade.
On development cooperation, PM Modi said poverty alleviation and ensuring welfare benefits for citizens remained top priorities for both countries.
“We have shared with Indonesia our experience with the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the Public Distribution System. We are now taking this cooperation to the next level,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the health agreements signed during the visit would make India’s affordable, high-quality medicines more accessible in Indonesia. India would also support the capacity building of Indonesian doctors and healthcare workers while supplying wheat seeds developed in India to strengthen Indonesia’s food security. The two countries will also share best practices in sustainable farming and agricultural technology.
Technology and innovation emerged as key pillars of future cooperation.
“The 21st century is a technology-driven century. Both India and Indonesia are youthful nations, and our young people have a natural inclination towards technology,” PM Modi said.
“Today, we signed an important agreement to strengthen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications and digital public infrastructure. We have also agreed to deepen collaboration between the startup ecosystems of our two countries.”
He also announced that the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore would establish a campus in Indonesia, benefiting students across the ASEAN region.
The Prime Minister said India and Indonesia had also taken important decisions relating to joint research, technology sharing and capacity building in the space sector.
He further announced an agreement to strengthen supply chains in critical minerals and steel.
“In today’s world, supply chain resilience in technology has become extremely important. We have also reached an important agreement to strengthen supply chains in critical minerals and steel. A new partnership is beginning between our companies in the areas of stainless steel and rare earth magnets,” he said.
Highlighting people-to-people ties, PM Modi announced that India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) would soon be integrated with Indonesia’s payment system.
“People-to-people ties remain the greatest strength of our relationship. We are delighted that India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will soon be integrated with Indonesia’s payment system. This will enhance both the ease of doing business and the ease of travel,” he said.
The Prime Minister also announced that he would join President Prabowo in launching the conservation project of the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, describing the thousand-year-old temple as a symbol of the shared cultural heritage of India and Indonesia.
He further announced that the two countries would celebrate the centenary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s historic visit to Indonesia as the “Tagore and Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy.”
On democratic cooperation, PM Modi said the two countries would strengthen collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding between their Election Commissions.
Touching upon regional and global issues, the Prime Minister said India and Indonesia shared a common outlook on the Indo-Pacific and reiterated India’s support for ASEAN Centrality.
“In these times of global uncertainty, India believes that the role of dialogue and diplomacy has become more important than ever before. On the issue of Palestine, we continue to support a Two-State Solution and lasting peace,” he said.
Concluding his address, PM Modi expressed confidence in the future of bilateral ties.
“A golden era is knocking at the doors of both our nations. We share a common culture rooted in history. We share mutual trust in the present. And we share a future of common prosperity. I am confident that together we will realise the vision of Indonesia Emas and Viksit Bharat,” he said.
Following the meeting, PM Modi described the talks as “productive” in a post on X.
“Held productive discussions with President Prabowo Subianto at Istana Merdeka in Jakarta. Over the past few years, India-Indonesia relations have acquired new momentum and greater depth. Today’s talks covered various subjects such as trade, human development, agriculture, food security and healthcare. As major maritime nations of the Indo-Pacific, defence, security and maritime cooperation also featured in our talks,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister said, “Looking at the future, we agreed that our nations must work closely in areas such as space, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure and other emerging technologies.”
Sharing the outcomes of the visit, PM Modi said, “The outcomes from this visit are comprehensive, substantive and futuristic. The India-Indonesia friendship will keep scaling new heights in the years to come.”
After receiving Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, the Prime Minister said, “This morning, I was honoured with Indonesia’s highest civilian award with great affection. This honour belongs to the millions of people of India. It reflects the sentiments of the people of Indonesia and symbolizes the historic and deep-rooted relations between India and Indonesia. I sincerely thank President Prabowo ji, the Government of Indonesia, and the people of Indonesia for this honour.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, covering trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, energy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, space, critical minerals and rare earths, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues and reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
The two sides witnessed the exchange of several bilateral agreements covering maritime safety and security, space cooperation, defence, steel supply chains, rare earths, healthcare, agriculture, and science and technology, among other sectors, giving fresh momentum to the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
