India’s invitation to Indonesia’s new president, Prabowo Subianto, because the chief visitor for Republic Day 2025 displays the load India attaches to its Act East coverage and its intention to strengthen ties with Indonesia and encourage its increasing regional and international position, significantly throughout the Asean Plus framework.
Deeper India-Indonesia ties want prioritising 5 key areas.
Defence partnership: This should transcend routine workouts and coordinated patrols, specializing in defence exports and joint manufacturing initiatives. Indonesia has proven curiosity in buying BrahMos missiles, although progress has been slower in comparison with the Philippines, which expedited its procurement course of. All eyes will likely be on Prabowo’s go to, given his observe report of diversifying defence purchases throughout his tenure as defence minister beneath President Joko Widodo. India should seize this chance to ascertain itself as a dependable defence accomplice.
Financial engagement and commerce enhancement: Indonesia stays India’s largest buying and selling accomplice within the Asean, however bilateral commerce quantity has but to achieve the focused $50 billion yearly. Persistent non-tariff obstacles in Indonesia and restricted cohesion amongst enterprise communities on either side hinder progress. Streamlining commerce processes, fostering entrepreneurial collaboration, and enhancing market entry beneath the Asean-India Free Commerce Settlement (at present beneath assessment) are important steps. Moreover, India’s help for Prabowo’s home initiatives in diet, meals safety, and public well being might pave the way in which for government-to-government agreements and elevated private-sector involvement. Enhancing the benefit of doing enterprise for Indian firms in Indonesia is equally necessary.
Vitality and useful resource safety: Indonesia performs a vital position in India’s power and useful resource safety as a significant provider of coal and palm oil. Nonetheless, these exports shouldn’t be topic to coverage uncertainties or sudden restrictions. Guaranteeing steady and predictable commerce insurance policies will profit each nations and foster better financial cooperation.
Tourism and cultural change: Tourism between the 2 nations has seen substantial progress, pushed by direct flights to Bali and Jakarta. Nonetheless, whereas Indian vacationers flock to Indonesia, the reverse is much less widespread. Indonesian vacationers often go to locations like Turkey, however India has but to draw comparable curiosity. Focused promotional efforts and enhanced cultural change programmes might stimulate Indonesian tourism to India. Highlighting India’s historic and religious landmarks, festivals, and wellness tourism could assist bridge this hole.
Schooling and innovation: Schooling stays an under-utilised space of cooperation between India and Indonesia. In contrast to nations reminiscent of Malaysia, the place an IIT campus has been established, Indonesia has restricted engagement in educational collaboration with India. Most Indonesian college students in India pursue non secular research, leaving vital potential untapped in science, expertise, and entrepreneurship. Increasing academic cooperation via institutional partnerships and inspiring Indonesian college students to utilise out there scholarships at Indian IITs might strengthen bilateral ties.
Indonesia’s involvement within the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, the place it companions with India, presents one other avenue for enhanced collaboration. This must be amplified, with trilateral partnerships reminiscent of India-Australia-Indonesia receiving better emphasis. Indonesia’s rising consolation in working with Australia might pave the way in which for deeper trilateral cooperation, benefiting Asean Plus, the Indian Ocean Rim Affiliation (IORA), and broader regional ambitions.
Prabowo’s go to can function a catalyst for addressing these areas and unlocking deeper ties between India and Indonesia.
Gurjit Singh is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Asean, and the African Union, and an honorary professor at IIT Indore. The views expressed are private
