India-Indonesia ties poised to grow manifold
Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s visit to India has set the tone for fresh initiatives in bilateral relationship between the two countries. In times when terrorism is the biggest threat to global peace, their decision to give priority to defence and security cooperation, will boost the already existing anti-terror mechanisms in both the countries. With an emphasis on ‘zero tolerance’ for terror activities, both India and Indonesia urged the global community to implement the UNSC Resolution and other relevant resolutions, designating terrorist entities. This brings home China's attempts to block India's effort to get Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, listed as a global terrorist by the UN. The willingness of both India and Indonesia to eliminate safe havens for terrorists, infrastructure and cross-border terrorism, gives India a trusted partner to sideline its recalcitrant neighbour, Pakistan, in its long-standing war on Islamic jihad.
Besides, India is Indonesia's biggest trade partner in South Asia, and the fourth largest in the world. In fact, trade values between India and Indonesia stood at $14.45 billion in 2015. And Widodo’s commitment to bring seven per cent growth to the country by 2018, is significant because he plans to woo Indian industries. According to sources, he sought to explore more diversified options for exports from Indonesia to India. As the country has a number of units producing raw medical material, his visit should initiate efforts to attract Indian companies for the same purpose. The investment partnership between the two nations in this field will certainly bring some of India's homegrown pharmaceutical giants to the island nation in the days to come. Both countries have agreed to an early implementation of the free trade agreement in services and investment, between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Indonesian President’s visit witnessed another milestone for the pending Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as India and Indonesia have showed urgency to finalise a historic trade agreement of the continent. The bilateral meet also saw both nations moving towards and early defence dialogue between their Defence Ministers. This will provide an opportunity to both to review and upgrade the current ‘Agreement on Cooperative Activities in the Fields of Defence' to a substantial bilateral defence cooperation agreement. India-Indonesia maritime cooperation was also a part of the discussions.
Beyond the politico-economic relationships, India and Indonesia share strong values of pluralism, spanning thousands of years. Now is the time to review traditional ties in the light of changing global dynamics. It would be of great interest to both to explore and share their multi-cultural values, as the two have an ethnically diverse population. The India-Indonesia partnership had never, despite everything, realised its potential. Now is the time to course-correct.