India, Indonesia Hold Defense Industry Exhibition, Seminar to Celebrate 75 Years of Diplomatic Ties

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The first-ever India-Indonesia Defense Industry Partnership was held in Jakarta on April 30 by the Embassy of India, the Indian Ministry of Defense and the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. The event marked the importance of bilateral defense cooperation in the 75th year of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Thirty-six prominent defense companies from India participated in the event, including 12 defense public sector undertakings (DPSUs or SOEs) and 24 private companies. A number of Indonesian SOEs and private companies engaged in defense were also present.

Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty said that India has a critical role to play in ensuring a strong, secure, and self-reliant nation as it emerges as the world's third-largest economy. He highlighted the Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) initiative, which fosters a vibrant defense innovation ecosystem to strengthen India's self-reliance in defense technologies. iDEX bridges the gap between the military and the startup ecosystem.

Prominent Indian companies like BrahMos, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics showcased their products and services. A total of 50 exhibitors exhibited their latest technology and innovations during the event.

The vibrant defense cooperation between India and Indonesia received a major boost in May 2018 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jakarta, when India and Indonesia elevated their relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership". 

The two countries also agreed on the "Shared Vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific," based on their similar vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region that respects the centrality of ASEAN. A collaborative approach to defense development is expected to strengthen their collective maritime security posture.

This year, the 42nd India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) is scheduled to take place in May. The military exercise "Garuda Shakti" and the naval exercise "Samudra Shakti" are scheduled to be held towards the end of 2024, further strengthening the institutional bilateral mechanisms between the two nations.

Suci Sekarwati

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