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'Modi'-fying growing India-Indonesia ties
While Modi is seeking reelection, Jokowi’s successor is expected to take the reins pushing his infrastructure momentum agenda ahead.
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Transfer of duty: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (right) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi take part in a chairmanship handover ceremony during the Group of 20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Nov. 16, 2022. (AFP/Pool/Willy Kurniawan )
T
he relationship between India and Indonesia has been equitable, long and time-tested, with several similarities existing between the two nations, in terms of culture and demographics. They can also be counted among the few economies that continue to remain resilient despite the uncertain macro environment.
While high-level policy decisions have kicked off between the two in the last few years, the high trade numbers and increasing investment are a clear indicator of the rise in affinity that is being seen at the business-to-business and even government-to-government levels. Two leaders with a similar tale to tell.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, both come from humble backgrounds and have the same developmental push, and thus their journeys as leaders have seen similar growth. For the two popular leaders, manufacturing and infrastructure have been key priorities, and which have seen a tremendous upsurge in the last decade in India and Indonesia.
The world’s largest and third-largest democracies are also months away from arguably their most momentous electoral decisions. While Modi is seeking reelection, Jokowi’s successor is expected to take the reins pushing his infrastructure momentum agenda ahead.
Modi first visited Jakarta in 2018 and signed a comprehensive strategic partnership. The pact highlighted issues around maritime, defense and economic cooperation. Jokowi too, truly believed that good India-ASEAN relations were set to create a lot of prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and indeed they did.
Fast forward five years, Modi is visiting Jakarta, affirming his strong ties with ASEAN and emphasizing India's supportive role in the Indo-Pacific policy. Media reports also indicate that the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits this week are also expected to review the progress of India-ASEAN relations and chalk out a promising future for the partnership. There is no doubt that political heads are playing a big role in ensuring that India-Indonesia relations reach a new high.
Riding on the commodity wave, trade between the two countries stands at more than US$38 billion, surpassing Singapore and making Indonesia India's largest trading partner in ASEAN. India imports crude oil and coal from Indonesia and exports refined petroleum products, commercial vehicles, telecommunication equipment, bovine meat, animal feed, agriculture products, steel and plastics to Indonesia.
