India and Indonesia on Tuesday signed a series of agreements aimed at expanding cooperation in technology, education, startups and space research, with one of the key announcements being the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) campus in Indonesia.The deals were announced after talks between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during the Prime Minister’s official visit to Jakarta. The two sides said the partnership will focus on emerging technologies while creating more opportunities for young people in both countries.
Focus on AI, digital infrastructure and startups
In a joint press conference with President Prabowo, Prime Minister Modi said the two countries are looking to leverage their demographic strengths by expanding technology cooperation.“We will also share best practices in sustainable agriculture and agro-technology. The 21st century is driven by technology. Both India and Indonesia are nations brimming with youthful energy, and our youth have a natural aptitude for technology,” the Prime Minister said. ANI reportsHe said the two countries had signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence, telecommunications and digital public infrastructure.“Today, we signed a significant agreement to enhance technological cooperation between our young people in areas such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications and digital public infrastructure. We also agreed to deepen startup collaboration between our two nations.” PM Modi he said
IIM Bangalore Campus for the ASEAN region
One of the announcements made during the visit was the decision to establish an IIM Bangalore campus in Indonesia.The prime minister said the campus will not only benefit students from Indonesia, but also serve students from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.“We will establish a campus of India’s prestigious management institute, IIM Bangalore, in Indonesia – this will greatly benefit the youth of the entire ASEAN region,” he said.The move comes as India continues to expand the international presence of its higher education institutions while strengthening educational partnerships with Southeast Asian countries.
Space cooperation expands
India and Indonesia also agreed to deepen cooperation in the space sector.Highlighting the long-standing partnership between the two countries, Prime Minister Modi said the latest agreements include joint research, technology sharing and capacity building.“We have also shared a trusting and decades-long partnership in the space sector. Based on this, key decisions have been taken today regarding joint research, technology sharing and capacity building in the space sector,” he said. ANI reports
Welcome ceremony in Jakarta
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial welcome in Jakarta as he began the Indonesia leg of his three-country tour.Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed the prime minister with an honor guard, horse-mounted escorts and traditional cultural performances. The two leaders greeted each other with a hug before holding talks at the delegation level.
Visit part of the wider Indo-Pacific outreach
Before leaving for the visit, PM Modi said the Indonesia tour, followed by visits to Australia and New Zealand, would strengthen India’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.“My visit to Indonesia and Australia in the Eastern and Southern Indian Ocean respectively, followed by New Zealand, will further strengthen the India Act policy, the MAHASAGAR vision, as well as our vision towards a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he was quoted as saying. ANI.Apart from official meetings, the Prime Minister also plans to interact with members of the Indian diaspora during his visit.He will also accompany President Prabowo to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prambanan temple complex in Yogyakarta, a site that Prime Minister Modi has previously described as a reflection of the civilized ties between India and Indonesia.The visit to Indonesia is the first leg of the Prime Minister’s three-country tour. He will travel to Australia and New Zealand after concluding his commitments in the country.