PM Modi unveils ‘Ganga-Mahakam Vision’ for India-Indonesia ties over next 25 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined a new vision for India-Indonesia relations, terming it the “Ganga-Mahakam Vision,” during an address to the Indonesian parliament as part of his state visit to Jakarta, according to Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon at a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs on 7 July 2026. The vision is named after two ancient rivers in India and Indonesia.

Tandon said the vision rests on five pillars: defense and security cooperation, maritime collaboration, deepening people-to-people and civilizational ties, exchanging development experience, and coordinating at international forums such as the UN and BRICS to strengthen the voice of the Global South. He said India and Indonesia “can no longer afford to be dependent on others” for security, and that both countries are working to build maritime connectivity despite their capitals being separated by thousands of kilometres.

On the development pillar, Tandon said India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Indonesia’s Emas Vision 2045 offer scope for mutual learning, noting that President Prabowo Subianto said he had drawn on initiatives from India’s development sphere. Tandon added that Modi invited Indonesian parliamentarians to join in shaping the relationship’s next phase, describing the address as receiving “quite a good reaction” from lawmakers.

The visit included a ceremony at the presidential palace, an Indian community reception personally attended by President Prabowo, and extensive bilateral talks in both restricted and delegation-level formats. Several agreements were concluded on the sidelines of the visit. Tandon said Modi was received with “an unusual” degree of warmth, including a reception by young children at the formal ceremony and an honour guard of fighter jets as his aircraft entered Indonesian airspace.

Modi was also conferred what Tandon described as the highest honour given by Indonesia, in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral relations. On 8 July 2026, Modi was scheduled to join President Prabowo in inaugurating a conservation project at the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, part of the two countries’ cooperation on cultural and civilizational links.