India Brings AI, UPI, and IIM Bangalore Campus to Indonesia

JAKARTA - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged wider technological cooperation with Indonesia. From artificial intelligence, telecommunications, digital payments, to plans to open an Indian Management Institute campus in Bengaluru in Indonesia, all of which are included in the new cooperation package between the two countries.

Modi conveyed this in a joint statement with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 7. He said the 21st century is driven by technology, while India and Indonesia both have the great energy of the younger generation.

"India and Indonesia are countries filled with the energy of the younger generation. Our young people have a great interest in technology," Modi said.

According to Modi, the two countries signed important agreements to increase cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence or AI, telecommunications, and digital public infrastructure.

Digital public infrastructure is a digital system that is widely used for public services and economic activities. Examples are digital identity, digital payments, and data-based public services.

Modi also said India and Indonesia agreed to deepen cooperation on startups. He said the plan to open an Indian Management Institute or IIM Bangalore campus in Bengaluru in Indonesia would benefit the younger generation in the Asian region.

"India plans to open the campus of the Indian Institute of Management Bengaluru in Indonesia, which will provide great benefits to the young generation in the Asian region," Modi said.

One of the points closest to everyday life is the plan to integrate India's digital payment system, UPI, with the Indonesian payment system. UPI or Unified Payments Interface is a digital payment system widely used in India.

Modi said the integration would make it easier for businesses and people of the two countries.

"We are very happy that India's digital payment system, UPI, will be integrated with Indonesia's payment system," Modi said.

In addition to digital technology, the two countries also strengthened space cooperation. Modi said Indonesia and India have long had a relationship of mutual trust in this sector. New cooperation will include joint research, technology sharing, and capacity building.

Modi also touched on the importance of technological supply chain resilience. The two countries reached an agreement to strengthen the supply chain of critical minerals and steel. Companies from both countries are beginning to explore partnerships in the field of stainless steel and rare earth magnets.

Critical minerals and rare earth magnets are essential for many modern industries, from electric vehicles, electronics, clean energy, to high-tech equipment.