Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Visits India

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is visiting India for four days, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend the Republic Day Parade as the Chief Guest. This marks his first visit to India as Head of State.

Key Discussions and Agreements

The visit will include a comprehensive review of bilateral ties and discussions on regional and global issues. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, focusing on food security, energy security, and healthcare. Indonesia's need for doctors and nurses, and potential collaborations in digital mapping for agriculture and renewable energy, will also be discussed.

Cultural and Trade Connections

Strengthening cultural exchanges, such as movie productions, educational initiatives, and student exchanges, will be part of the discussions. Improving flight connectivity, including the Delhi-Jakarta route, and enhancing people-to-people connections are also on the agenda. Indonesia is one of India's largest trading partners in the ASEAN region, with bilateral trade reaching US$ 29.40 billion in 2023-24.

Defense and Maritime Cooperation

While a defense deal is unlikely to be finalized during this visit, Indonesia is interested in learning from India to strengthen its defense system. The two countries have a robust defense cooperation agreement signed in 2018. They are close maritime neighbors with cultural and trade ties spanning over a millennia.

Republic Day Celebrations

A 352-member marching and band contingent from Indonesia will participate in the Republic Day Parade, marking the first time an Indonesian contingent will participate in a national day parade abroad. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet President Prabowo, who will also receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan and lay a wreath at Rajghat before talks with PM Modi.