India and Indonesia enhanced Collaboration

Context

India and Indonesia have recently agreed to enhance collaboration in areas of defence industry, maritime security and multilateral cooperation . 

Key Highlights

• Historical Linkages: India and Indonesia share two-millennia old close cultural and commercial contacts.
  • The Hindu, Buddhist and later Muslim faith travelled to Indonesia from the shores of India. 
  • The testimonies from remarkable epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata form a source of Indonesian folk artwork and dramas. 
  • The famous Bali Yatra, every week-long pageant, is well known with a fantastic deal of fervour and gaiety in both India and Indonesia.
• Political Relations: The struggle against colonial powers, democratic traditions, pluralist subculture, and modern leadership are a number of the common strands connecting India and Indonesia.
  • President Sukarno of Indonesia was the Guest of Honour at some point of the first Republic Day of India in 1950.
  • Independent India and Indonesia have become chief votaries of independence of Asian and African nations, the spirit of which brought about the historical Bandung Conference of 1955 and later formation of NonAligned Movement in 1961. 
  • Since the adoption of India’s ‘Look East Policy’ in 1991, and its upgradation to ‘Act East’ in 2014, there has been a fast improvement of bilateral members of the family in political, security, defence, business and cultural fields. 
  • India and Indonesia have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and feature arrived at a shared imaginative and prescient of the Indo-Pacific. 
• Commercial Relations : Indonesia has emerged as India’s largest trade partner in the ASEAN region. 
  • The Total Bilateral Trade all through the financial year 2022-23 was USD 38.85 Billion (increase of 48% from closing FY) with USD 10.02 Billion (18% increase) worth export and USD 28.82 Billion (62% growth) worth imports. 
  • India is the second biggest buyer of coal and crude palm oil from Indonesia and imports minerals, rubber, pulp and paper and hydrocarbons reserves.
  • India exports refined petroleum merchandise, business cars, telecommunication equipment, agriculture commodities, bovine meat, steel products and plastics to Indonesia.
  • Indonesia is an appealing vacation spot for Indian investment
  • In the defence sector, both countries had been operating intently and prepared Samudra Shakti, a bilateral maritime exercise, and Garuda Shakti, a joint military exercise, every year.

Recent Developments 

• The first-ever “India-Indonesia Defence Industry Exhibition-cum-Seminar” was organised in Jakarta by the 2 countries as they marked the 75th year of establishment of diplomatic ties. 
• Indonesia is also eager to construct its own defence industry and provided to proportion India’s stories on this regard and additionally to partner for long-term collaborations in the defence sector.
• The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), and Pinhantanas, Indonesia’s countrywide private defence enterprise association will sign a memorandum of expertise (MoU) to promote and reinforce the defence industry partnership between the 2 nations. 

Future Outlook

• India and Indonesia had civilizational connections for more than 2000 years. Both countries being maritime neighbours and strategic companions have essential and near members of the family. 
• In present day times, this partnership is characterized by close cooperation in bilateral and multilateral area, which include common high-degree interactions,”
• Indonesia is an essential companion in India’s Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific region.
• The two nations have the massive potential to develop further in the coming years with growing bilateral and community relations.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q.Analyze the vital areas of Indo-Indonesian relations, examining historical ties, strategic cooperation, economic partnerships, and cultural ties.

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