Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, during a banquet lunch in Jakarta on July 7, 2026, openly acknowledged his admiration for India's growth model, stating he has copied many of India's programmes. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly, Subianto said, 'I follow your career and I copied many of your programmes. I don't mind admitting, because if it succeeds for hundreds of million people with the same background as Indonesia, the same problems, we are making the same, we have the same problems of big population, we have agriculture in background, we face many natural disasters, and yet India has achieved many progress. So I openly admit that I follow your career and I copied a lot of your programmes.'
Positive Outcomes from Adopted Strategies
Subianto highlighted that these adapted strategies are already delivering positive outcomes on the ground. He added, 'And it's proving to be successful for us. So, thank you very much. I'm very happy there's no copyright to all your programmes.' Demonstrating policy alignment translating into bilateral exchange, Subianto revealed that a delegation from Jakarta recently concluded an intensive study of India's agricultural innovations. 'In fact, just I think yesterday, a team from Indonesia just came back from I think two or three weeks of study of the achievements many Indian groups have achieved in making arid land to be arable again. It's called permaculture. So we are studying this closely and we have a lot to learn and we are not afraid of learning,' he noted.
Key MoUs Signed: BrahMos Missiles, IIT and IIM Campuses
In a major boost to expanding bilateral relations, PM Modi and President Subianto on Tuesday announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on BrahMos-Astra missiles, alongside New Delhi's plans to establish Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) campuses in Indonesia. The high-level discussions culminated in the exchange of a series of MoUs spanning critical sectors, including space exploration, critical minerals, technology, disaster management, medical products regulation, agriculture, and maritime safety. 'We have signed an agreement to deepen collaboration in tech, AI, and startup businesses,' PM Modi announced during a joint press briefing, adding, 'We will be opening a campus of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) in Indonesia.'
Digital Payments and Cultural Cooperation
Furthermore, New Delhi and Jakarta have agreed to work towards integrating their cross-border QR payment systems to ease financial transactions. The two democracies will also cooperate closely on the preservation and conservation of the historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prambanan Temple Complex located in Yogyakarta.
Bintang Adipurna Medal for PM Modi
Marking a historic moment during the state visit, Indonesia bestowed its premier civilian decoration, the 'Bintang Adipurna' medal, upon PM Modi in recognition of his role in fortifying bilateral relations. Expressing his gratitude for the supreme honour, PM Modi stated, 'The respect shown through this medal is for every Indian, and I would like to thank Indonesia on their behalf.'
Strategic Visit and Future Engagements
PM Modi is currently in Indonesia from July 6 to 8 for the inaugural leg of his three-nation diplomatic visit, which will subsequently take him to Australia and New Zealand. This high-profile visit represents his first bilateral visit to Indonesia since the two nations formally elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018. The current engagement builds upon the momentum generated during President Prabowo's state visit to India in January 2025, when he was accorded the honour of being the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations. Prior to his departure from New Delhi, PM Modi had underscored the strategic importance of the visit, noting that it would further deepen the 'multifaceted partnership' between India and Indonesia.
