PM Modi pushes for stronger India-Indonesia maritime cooperation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the strengthening of maritime cooperation between India and Indonesia, as a vital component of the ‘Ganga-Mahakam Vision’ he is promoting for a new era in bilateral relations.
“As two great maritime nations, we will transform maritime geography into shared prosperity,” PM Modi stated during his speech before members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
“From Sabang to Nicobar, from the gateway of Malacca to the Indo-Pacific, we will create new opportunities in connectivity, logistics, the blue economy, maritime security, and resilient trade,” he added.
Despite New Delhi and Jakarta being separated by thousands of kilometres, Modi noted that the coasts of the two nations are only about 150 kilometres apart.
Modi referred to the distance between Sabang in Aceh and the Great Nicobar Project, which India is currently developing to support its maritime industry and connectivity.
“Although the sea acts as a divider for other nations, for India and Indonesia, the sea never represents distance. The sea has always been a bridge between us, the centre of our shared future,” Modi remarked.
By leveraging the large populations of both nations, Modi believes that India and Indonesia can enhance bilateral cooperation based on the spirit of ‘development for all’.
“India, Indonesia, and the Indian Ocean demonstrate the long history of our relationship. The ocean presents limitless opportunities for us. Therefore, I invite you to elevate the relationship between our two countries to a higher level,” he said.
The governments of Indonesia and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime connectivity through the development of strategic ports in Sabang and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In a joint statement with PM Modi at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed optimism that increased maritime connectivity would not only facilitate smoother trade and investment flows but also foster closer people-to-people ties through enhanced regional mobility.
Prabowo hopes that the development of maritime corridors can serve as a concrete step in strengthening the Indonesia-India strategic partnership within the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Geographically, Sabang, located on Weh Island in Aceh, is approximately 700 kilometres southeast of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is only about 160 kilometres from India’s Great Nicobar Project.
Both locations face the northern entrance of the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest maritime crossroads, which handles a significant portion of global trade and energy supplies.