Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Indonesia on Tuesday produced a wide-ranging set of outcomes, with India and Indonesia signing 20 agreements covering defence, critical minerals, technology, education, healthcare, agriculture, maritime security and cultural cooperation. Modi also held delegation-level talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and received Indonesia’s highest civilian honour.
Here are the 10 biggest takeaways from the visit.
1. Defence cooperation widened beyond BrahMos
Defence emerged as one of the biggest pillars of the visit. India and Indonesia agreed to cooperate on the BrahMos missile system, while also signing an air-to-air missile cooperation agreement. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the agreements are aimed at strengthening defence collaboration, promoting indigenous manufacturing and supporting India’s defence exports.
2. Critical minerals took centre stage
The two countries signed multiple agreements focused on critical minerals and industrial supply chains. These include cooperation in minerals and steel technology, along with a separate partnership on the development of rare earth magnets involving the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Midwest Ltds. and Indonesia’s PT PERMINAS.
The two countries hope the agreements will attract fresh investment, promote technology collaboration and strengthen critical mineral supply chains.
3. SAIL and Indonesia’s Krakatau Steel to set up a manufacturing facility
India’s Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Indonesia’s PT Krakatau Steel agreed to establish a stainless-steel slab manufacturing facility in Indonesia.
According to the MEA, the joint venture is expected to promote technology collaboration, industrial development and job creation.
4. IIM Bengaluru will open a campus in Indonesia
One of the standout announcements was the decision to establish an Indian Institute of Management Bengaluru branch campus at Singhasari Special Economic Zone.
Speaking after the talks, Modi said the campus would benefit students across the ASEAN region while expanding educational cooperation between the two countries.
5. AI, telecom and startups feature prominently
Technology cooperation received significant attention during the visit.
The two countries signed agreements covering artificial intelligence, telecommunications, digital public infrastructure, research, innovation and startups. India and Indonesia also agreed to strengthen cooperation between the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and the Indonesia Open Network (ION).
“Today, we have signed a significant agreement to enhance technological cooperation among our youth in areas such as AI, telecommunications, and digital public infrastructure. We have also agreed to deepen startup collaboration between our two nations,” Modi said.
6. Space partnership gets another extension
India and Indonesia extended their framework agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
The agreement extends a space partnership that has been in place for more than three decades and covers joint research, technology sharing and capacity building.
7. Maritime security cooperation deepens
The two sides renewed their agreement on maritime safety and security cooperation and expanded collaboration between their Coast Guards.
Another agreement provides for the deployment of an Indonesian liaison officer at the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to strengthen maritime information sharing and coordination.
8. Healthcare, disaster management and agriculture also see new agreements
Several agreements focused on public welfare and capacity building.
These include cooperation in medical product regulation, health workforce collaboration, disaster management, sustainable agriculture and agricultural research.
India will also supply 100 tonnes of DWR-162 wheat seeds to Indonesia to support agricultural cooperation.
9. Cultural and democratic institutions get a boost
The visit wasn’t limited to defence and trade. Both countries also unveiled a year-long programme to mark 100 years since Rabindranath Tagore’s visit to Indonesia in 1927 under the Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy.
India will also help restore and conserve the UNESCO-listed Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta, a project that builds on the long-standing cultural links between the two countries.
On the institutional front, the Election Commission of India and Indonesia’s General Elections Commission agreed to work together on election management and share administrative experience.
10. PM Modi receives Indonesia’s highest civilian honour
President Prabowo Subianto conferred the Bintang Adipurna, Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, on Prime Minister Modi.
Accepting the award, PM Modi dedicated it to the people of India.
“This honour belongs to the crores of Indians; it reflects the sentiments of the people of Indonesia and the historic, deep-rooted bonds between our two nations. I extend my heartfelt thanks to President Prabowo, the Government of Indonesia, and the people here,” he said.
Addressing the joint press conference, PM Modi said the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Indonesia had gained “new trust, depth and energy” in recent years.
“I am sure that a new golden chapter in India and Indonesia’s bilateral relations will begin from today,” he said.
The Indonesia visit is the first leg of PM Modi’s three-nation tour, which will also take him to Australia and New Zealand.