NEW DELHI: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night for his first visit to India as the head of state. Subianto is in the country as the chief guest for the 76th Republic Day celebrations.
The president was greeted at the airport by minister of state for external affairs pabitra Margherita. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a message on X (formerly Twitter), welcomed Subianto and described the visit as an opportunity to enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
During the four-day visit, Subianto is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for discussions on a broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. Sources indicate that key areas such as food and energy security, healthcare, and renewable energy will feature prominently in their talks. Potential agreements on cultural exchanges, digital mapping for agriculture, and enhancing flight connectivity, including a Delhi-Jakarta route, are also on the agenda.
This visit is historic for several reasons. A 352-member Indonesian marching and band contingent will participate in the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, marking the first time an Indonesian contingent will take part in a national day parade abroad. Brigadier Kristomei, Deputy Commander of the Indonesian Military Academy, expressed excitement about this milestone, adding that the contingent is honoured to present themselves before the Indian government, the Indian people, and their president.
Indonesia is one of India’s largest trading partners in the Asean region, with bilateral trade reaching USD 29.40 billion in 2023. Indian investments in Indonesia span sectors like infrastructure, textiles, automotive, and banking, totalling USD 1.56 billion.
Defence cooperation remains a key pillar of the relationship. The Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2018 has bolstered security ties, and further discussions on technology transfers and collaboration in strengthening Indonesia’s defence systems are expected during this visit.
Subianto’s participation as the chief guest for Republic Day continues a tradition of strong ties, as Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president, was the guest of honour at India’s inaugural Republic Day in 1950.