India and Indonesia have agreed to deepen maritime cooperation, with discussions centring on India’s Great Nicobar Island project and Indonesia’s Sabang Port during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State Visit to Indonesia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both sides are looking to advance a shared maritime vision first unveiled during Modi’s 2018 visit, focusing on connectivity and security in the Indian Ocean region.
Expanded Maritime Domain Awareness and Coast Guard Links
The talks covered plans to enhance mutual maritime domain awareness, strengthen maritime connectivity and step up cooperation between the two countries’ Coast Guards. Indonesia has decided to post a liaison officer at the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram, reflecting the priority both sides place on real-time information sharing in regional waters.
Strategic Infrastructure and Joint Task Force
According to the MEA, both sides exchanged views on key strategic infrastructure projects, including Indonesian interest in India’s Great Nicobar Island development and India’s interest in the ongoing development of Sabang Port. The two countries agreed to continue the work of the Joint Task Force set up under the 2018 shared maritime vision, with a third meeting expected later this year to push forward specific cooperation initiatives.
Defence Industry Collaboration Beyond Military Exchanges
India and Indonesia also focused on strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly in defence and security. Officials said defence ties are set to move beyond traditional military exchanges toward deeper collaboration between defence industries, covering areas such as shipping, weapons systems and missile-related cooperation, where Indian defence firms have developed technological strengths that interest Indonesia.
Trade, Health, Digital and Education Cooperation
On the economic front, both sides noted that current bilateral trade of around USD 25 billion does not match the scale of their markets and agreed to work toward higher targets. Discussions highlighted opportunities in pharmaceuticals, food processing, digital infrastructure and innovation, with India’s role as the “pharmacy of the world” aligning with Indonesia’s need for affordable, high-quality medicines for its public health system.
Strengthening People-to-People and Education Links
The two countries also emphasised strengthening historical and civilisational ties through greater engagement between universities and educational institutions. Agreements were reached for leading Indian universities to establish campuses in Indonesia, aiming to broaden educational collaboration and deepen people-to-people connectivity.
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