- India and Indonesia have strengthened their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by signing a series of agreements covering healthcare, education, defence, maritime security and critical minerals during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Jakarta.
- Among the biggest announcements was the decision to establish an overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore in Indonesia’s East Java province, marking another milestone in India’s growing global education footprint.
- The agreements are expected to deepen cooperation between the two countries while enhancing India’s engagement with ASEAN under the Act East Policy.
IIM Bangalore to Open Campus in Indonesia
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that IIM Bangalore will establish its overseas campus at the Singhasari Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in East Java, Indonesia.
- The new campus aims to provide world-class management education to students from Indonesia and across the ASEAN region.
- According to the Prime Minister, the initiative will strengthen educational collaboration while creating new opportunities for young professionals throughout Southeast Asia.
- The proposed campus also reflects India’s ambition to internationalise its premier higher education institutions.
India’s Growing Global Education Presence
- The Indonesia campus will become another important milestone in the global expansion of India’s top management institutes.
- Previously, IIM Ahmedabad became the first Indian Institute of Management to establish an overseas campus when it opened its Dubai campus in 2025.
- With IIM Bangalore’s expansion into Indonesia, India is strengthening its reputation as a global provider of quality higher education.
Major Health Cooperation Agreements Signed
India and Indonesia also signed key agreements to deepen healthcare collaboration.
Medical Products Regulation
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) of India and Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement will facilitate:
- Cooperation in medical product regulation.
- Exchange of regulatory knowledge.
- Alignment with international regulatory standards.
- Improved market access for Indian medicines in Indonesia.
Prime Minister Modi said the partnership would help increase the availability of India’s affordable and high-quality medicines for Indonesian citizens.
Health Workforce Collaboration
- The two countries also signed an Implementation Agreement on Health Workforce Collaboration.
- The agreement will promote Fellowship programmes, Professional training, Capacity building, Mobility of qualified healthcare professionals.
- India will also contribute to training Indonesian doctors and healthcare workers, further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the health sector.
Nearly a Dozen Agreements Signed
- The education and health agreements formed part of nearly twelve bilateral agreements concluded during Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
- The areas of cooperation include Education, Healthcare, Defence, Maritime Security, Critical Minerals and Strategic Cooperation.
- The agreements reflect the expanding scope of India-Indonesia relations across economic, technological and strategic domains.
Strengthening ASEAN Partnership
The establishment of an IIM Bangalore campus in Indonesia also supports India’s broader engagement with ASEAN countries.
The initiative aligns with:
- India’s Act East Policy.
- ASEAN connectivity goals.
- Educational exchange.
- Skill development.
- Regional capacity building.
The campus is expected to become a regional hub for management education serving students from multiple Southeast Asian countries.
Conclusion
The decision to establish an overseas campus of IIM Bangalore in Indonesia, alongside important healthcare agreements, marks another significant step in India-Indonesia relations. By combining educational collaboration with healthcare cooperation and strategic partnerships, both countries are expanding their engagement beyond traditional diplomacy and laying the foundation for stronger economic and people-centric ties across the Indo-Pacific region.