Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday said he had adopted several programs from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The remarks came while hosting a lunch in Jakarta in Modi’s honor. Seated next to the Indian leader, Subianto noted there was no copyright on the initiatives, prompting laughter from attendees.
Subianto stated he follows Modi’s work and has replicated many of his programs. He explained the decision openly, noting that India and Indonesia face comparable development issues. Programs successful for millions in India could also help Indonesians, he said.
He added that the copied measures are already showing results in Indonesia. The comments were reported by the ANI news agency.
On the same day, India and Indonesia signed several agreements covering health, education and other areas. One deal provides for an overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore in Indonesia. The campus will be located in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone in East Java.
India’s drug regulator and Indonesia’s food and drug agency also signed a memorandum on cooperation in medical product oversight. The pact aims to share regulatory knowledge and improve access for Indian medicines in Indonesia.
Nearly a dozen agreements were reached during the visit, including cooperation on defense, critical minerals and maritime security. Modi’s trip to Jakarta began on Monday and forms the first part of a three-nation tour that also includes Australia and New Zealand.
