Business/Technology
75th Anniversary of India – Indonesia Diplomatic Relationship observed
By : PARTHA ROY
India & Indonesia are observing 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relationship since its establishment in 1949.An interactive session with Ambassador of The Republic of Indonesia to India H.E. Ina H Krisnamurthi was organized by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on 23rd July 2024 in Kolkata to deliberate and explore scope and opportunities to promote cooperation & collaboration to expand &. enhance trade & investment in both nations.
Interactive session was attended by Mr. Mahesh K. Saharia, Hony. Consul of The Republic of Indonesia, Kolkata & Chairman ICC (North-East Regional Committee); Mr. Dadang Hidayat, Minister Counsellor (Economics) Indonesian Embassy; Mr. M. Iqbal Djamil, Trade Attaché Indonesian Embassy; Mr. Nugroho P. Pratomo, Director Indonesia Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Chennai; Mr. Pradeep Sureka, Past President, ICC; and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC.
Ambassador Krisnamurthi said, “The relationship between India and Indonesia has grown significantly, reaching a substantial $1.24 billion in 2023. However, we believe there’s untapped potential. …As a country with a long history intertwined with India, Indonesia aims to foster deeper business ties. In response to requests from the business community, we’ve started direct flights to four Indian cities within two and a half years. We’re proud of establishing the Sister Hospital program as a platform for healthcare cooperation.
Recognizing India’s global leadership in pharmaceuticals, we aim to build stronger connections between our healthcare sectors. We believe in the power of people-to-people connections. To strengthen these bonds, we’ve initiated over 120 Memoranda of Understanding between universities. A notable example is the collaboration between Nalanda University and Jambi University on archaeological sites. India’s impressive economic growth rate of 8% and Indonesia’s emergence as a global economic player create a promising landscape.
However, growth must benefit our populations. Together, India and Southeast Asia represent a massive market of over two billion people. Digital collaboration, particularly among youth, is crucial. While there’s increasing Indian investment in Indonesia, there’s scope for more, especially in sectors like healthcare and education. Healthcare requires a skilled workforce. We aim to collaborate with India, especially in rural areas, to develop healthcare systems. …Education is another priority. While university partnerships are growing, we need to enhance research collaboration. Beyond traditional sectors like coal and palm oil, we seek collaborations in digital technology, education and healthcare.”
Recognizing India’s global leadership in pharmaceuticals, we aim to build stronger connections between our healthcare sectors. We believe in the power of people-to-people connections. To strengthen these bonds, we’ve initiated over 120 Memoranda of Understanding between universities. A notable example is the collaboration between Nalanda University and Jambi University on archaeological sites. India’s impressive economic growth rate of 8% and Indonesia’s emergence as a global economic player create a promising landscape.
However, growth must benefit our populations. Together, India and Southeast Asia represent a massive market of over two billion people. Digital collaboration, particularly among youth, is crucial. While there’s increasing Indian investment in Indonesia, there’s scope for more, especially in sectors like healthcare and education. Healthcare requires a skilled workforce. We aim to collaborate with India, especially in rural areas, to develop healthcare systems. …Education is another priority. While university partnerships are growing, we need to enhance research collaboration. Beyond traditional sectors like coal and palm oil, we seek collaborations in digital technology, education and healthcare.”
India and Indonesia have deep historical and cultural connections from ancient maritime trade to shared epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Indonesia is India’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN and significant investments flowing in both directions. With a combined GDP nearing $5 trillion, India and Indonesia aspire to reach $40 trillion by 2047 and secure top-five global economy positions. Opportunities for collaboration in pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, defense and the digital economy are abundant. Recently, 17th India-Indonesia Joint Defense Cooperation Committee meeting and the inaugural India-Indonesia Defense Industry Exhibition were organized. Currently, Indonesia exports key commodities like palm oil and coal to India, while India exports primarily manufactured goods.
