Modi Heads to Jakarta on July 7 as India Backs Indonesia's Open Digital Network

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia on July 7–8, 2026, is expected to mark a major milestone in elevating bilateral ties into a new era. While defense, trade, food security, healthcare, education, pharmaceuticals, space, science, and cultural heritage restoration will all feature prominently on the agenda, the centerpiece of the visit is expected to be digital technology cooperation through the development of the Indonesia Open Network (ION)—a digital public infrastructure initiative backed by India.

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty said Modi is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 7, where he will be welcomed by President Prabowo Subianto. The following day, Modi will travel to Yogyakarta. Chakravorty announced the itinerary during a media briefing at the Indian Embassy in Jakarta on Friday. India's Ministry of External Affairs has also confirmed that Modi will visit Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand that week as part of a broader effort to strengthen India's engagement across the Asia-Pacific.

According to Chakravorty, the visit is one of the most significant bilateral engagements between the two countries in recent years. Modi last visited Indonesia in 2023 for the India-ASEAN Summit, just days before India hosted the G20 Summit. This time, he said, discussions between the two leaders will be broader in scope and more concrete in expected outcomes.

"This is an exceptionally rich agenda between two leaders, not only in substance but also in the outcomes we expect to achieve," Chakravorty said.

Several memorandums of understanding are currently being finalized, with some expected to be signed during the visit. The agreements span healthcare, space cooperation, science and technology, education, pharmaceuticals, food security, downstream industries, defense, trade, and the digital economy.

Launching the Indonesia Open Network

One of the visit's most consequential initiatives is the launch—or formal strengthening—of the Indonesia Open Network (ION).

Chakravorty said the project stems from a memorandum of understanding signed during President Prabowo's visit to India in January 2025, when both countries agreed to collaborate on developing digital public infrastructure.

He described digital public infrastructure as a publicly owned digital "railway" or "highway" on which innovation can flourish. Such infrastructure supports digital payments, digital identity, digital commerce, logistics, ride-hailing services, and a broad range of digital economy applications.

"With support from various stakeholders in Indonesia, we can bring technology from India and build the Indonesia Open Network," Chakravorty said.

ION is designed as an open-network digital commerce platform aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises, neighborhood shops, businesses in remote regions, women entrepreneurs, and others who have struggled to participate in the digital economy because of technological and cost barriers.

According to Chakravorty, dominant digital platforms often impose fees that make it difficult for smaller businesses to compete effectively.

India has emerged as a global pioneer in open-network digital commerce, he said, adding that Indonesia has the opportunity to become one of the first countries to rapidly adopt the model. ION is inspired by India's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and is being developed using the Beckn 2.0 open protocol.

"This solution will empower Indonesia and its people spread across thousands of islands," Chakravorty said. "They will be able to use the network for digital commerce, ride-hailing, logistics, and countless other applications. It will be a revolutionary step."

He noted that an initial rollout of ION was introduced in February 2026 alongside Indonesia's Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Maman Abdurrahman. Chakravorty also said he had met with Google executives and found strong enthusiasm for the initiative.

He expressed confidence that ION would be formally launched during Modi's visit alongside President Prabowo. Several reports have likewise identified the initiative as one of the visit's key announcements.

Defense Cooperation

Defense cooperation will also rank high on the agenda. Chakravorty confirmed Indonesia's interest in acquiring the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, describing it as a reliable and affordable platform for countries such as Indonesia.

India has already concluded a BrahMos agreement with the Philippines, while negotiations with Indonesia have reached an advanced stage.

"Our discussions with Indonesia have progressed significantly, and we hope to conclude certain agreements related to BrahMos," he said.

Still, Chakravorty emphasized that India views defense cooperation with Indonesia through a broader strategic lens focused on regional and maritime security.

Given Indonesia's strategic location along the Strait of Malacca, bilateral cooperation extends beyond weapons systems to include maritime domain awareness, combating illegal fishing, piracy, human trafficking, and securing vital sea lanes.

India, he noted, has transformed its defense industry from one heavily dependent on imports into a growing exporter of military equipment.

"It is important for us to become self-reliant. That is one of the lessons we hope to share with Indonesia," Chakravorty said.

Palm Oil Trade

India is also closely monitoring Indonesia's export policies, particularly those affecting palm oil. Chakravorty stressed that India remains one of the largest buyers of Indonesian palm oil and said India's food and energy security are closely linked to Indonesia.

He acknowledged that Indonesia's export policies remain under discussion but said India understands the rationale behind them and continues to monitor developments.

"At this point, we do not have any major concerns," he said.

Restoring Prambanan Temple

Modi's visit to Yogyakarta also carries significant cultural symbolism.

Chakravorty said India and Indonesia have been working together on plans to restore Prambanan Temple, with India's support first outlined in the joint statement issued by the two leaders in 2025.

India's Archaeological Survey possesses extensive expertise in restoring ancient temples and heritage sites, having previously led restoration projects at Angkor Wat in Cambodia as well as sites in Laos and Vietnam.

Indian experts have already visited Prambanan and prepared a restoration proposal that is currently under review.

Modi's visit to Yogyakarta is expected to coincide with the formal launch of the restoration partnership.

Chakravorty said Yogyakarta has tremendous potential as a global tourism destination. Restoring and promoting Prambanan more aggressively would attract larger numbers of international visitors, including tourists from India, while supporting Indonesia's efforts to develop priority tourism destinations beyond Bali.

Public Addresses

Modi is also scheduled to deliver two public speeches during his visit. The first will be before the Indian diaspora in Indonesia, while the second is expected to take place before Indonesia's Parliament.

According to Chakravorty, both appearances will allow Modi to outline India's vision for the Indo-Pacific, global affairs, and the future of Indonesia-India relations.

"Prime Minister Modi represents the world's largest democracy. Indonesia is also a large and vibrant democracy. There is powerful symbolism, substance, and meaning behind this visit," he said.

A Broad Strategic Partnership

Chakravorty described Indonesia-India relations as multidimensional.

The two countries are historical partners, maritime neighbors, and future strategic partners whose cooperation spans nearly every major sector, including defense, space, education, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, and election management.

He noted that more than 10 Indonesians are currently studying permaculture in India, learning farming techniques that require less irrigation and fertilizer.

The two countries are also exploring cooperation between their election commissions, reflecting their shared experience in managing some of the world's largest democratic elections.

"India and Indonesia enjoy a very close and friendly relationship," Chakravorty said. "We are historical partners, and we will remain partners in the future."

A Key Trading Relationship

Economically, India has become one of Indonesia's most important trading partners.

Chakravorty said India is Indonesia's third-largest export destination, while Indonesia is an important market for Indian exports.

He expects Modi's visit to raise the profile of a bilateral relationship that has long been economically significant but has not always received commensurate public attention.

Relations between the two countries have strengthened steadily since President Prabowo's visit to New Delhi in January 2025, when both governments signed agreements covering culture, healthcare, security, maritime affairs, and digital cooperation.

At the time, Modi also emphasized collaboration in defense manufacturing, supply chains, maritime security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and deradicalization.

With such a broad agenda, Modi's visits to Jakarta and Yogyakarta represent far more than routine diplomacy.

They signal the emergence of a new South-South partnership—one that is evolving from a shared civilizational heritage toward digital sovereignty, and from historical friendship toward a strategic partnership designed for the future.