This year’s Republic Day celebrations in India will feature Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto as the Chief Guest, marking a historic moment with a 352-member Indonesian marching and band contingent participating in the parade on Kartavya Path. This is the first time an Indonesian contingent will perform at a national day parade abroad.
President Prabowo will pay a State Visit to India on January 25-26, during which a wide range of bilateral cooperation areas—political, defence, trade, healthcare, digital technologies, and cultural ties—will be reviewed. Several MoUs and announcements are expected, alongside the convening of the third CEO Forum.
This will be President Prabowo’s first visit to India as Head of State, continuing the legacy of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first President, who attended India’s first Republic Day in 1950. President Prabowo will be the fourth Indonesian President to grace this occasion.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
India and Indonesia, close maritime neighbors with millennia-old trade and cultural ties, elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. Defence cooperation has grown, marked by joint exercises such as Garuda Shakti (Army), Samudra Shakti (Navy), and the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT).
Economic and Trade Relations
Indonesia is among India’s largest trading partners in ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching USD 29.40 billion in 2023-24. Indian investments in Indonesia total USD 1.56 billion, spanning sectors such as infrastructure, automotive, mining, and consumer goods.
Healthcare and Education
Collaboration in healthcare includes Apollo Hospital’s partnership with Mayapada Hospital to build a green hospital in Indonesia’s new capital, Ibu Kota Nusantara. Exports of Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices to Indonesia rose to USD 230.41 million in 2023-24. Educational ties are bolstered through scholarships under ITEC, TCS, and ICCR programs, benefiting over 100 Indonesian students annually.
Tourism and Connectivity
Direct flight routes between India and Indonesia, launched in August 2023, have boosted tourism, with India becoming the second-largest source of tourists to Bali in 2023-24, accounting for over 600,000 visitors.
Community Ties
Approximately 1,50,000 Persons of Indian Origin reside in Indonesia, contributing to business and professional sectors, while 14,000 Indian nationals live as expatriates.
President Prabowo’s visit will provide a platform to comprehensively review bilateral ties and discuss key regional and global issues, reaffirming the strong partnership between the two nations.