India Ready to Help Indonesia's Food and Health, Modi Singled Out Affordable Medicines

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (IST)

JAKARTA - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is ready to expand cooperation with Indonesia in the fields of food and health. These two sectors are considered important because they directly touch the needs of the community.

Modi conveyed this in a joint statement with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 7. He said poverty alleviation and people's welfare were the top priorities for India and Indonesia.

"For India and Indonesia, overcoming poverty and ensuring people's well-being are top priorities," Modi said.

According to Modi, India has shared experiences regarding food programs and public distribution systems with Indonesia. The cooperation will be expanded.

This statement is interesting because the Prabowo government has placed the issue of food as one of the major agendas. From the Indian side, the experience of managing food distribution for a large population is one of the working capital offered.

Modi also said India would share best practices in sustainable agriculture and modern agricultural technology. The goal is to strengthen Indonesia's food security.

"To strengthen Indonesia's food security, we will share best practices in sustainable agriculture and modern agricultural technology," Modi said.

Apart from food, Modi highlighted health cooperation. He said that the agreement signed by the two countries would make quality health products from India more accessible to the Indonesian people.

"Through the agreement signed today, high-quality and affordable health products from India will be more easily accessible to the Indonesian people," said Modi.

India is known as one of the world's largest producers of generic drugs. In the context of this cooperation, Modi emphasized the aspect of more affordable prices and quality of health services.

He also said India would contribute to increasing the capacity of Indonesian doctors and health workers.

"We will also contribute to increasing the capacity of Indonesian doctors and health workers," said Modi.

Modi did not elaborate on the technical form of health cooperation in his statement. However, he placed health, food, and poverty alleviation as part of a broader agenda in the relationship between Indonesia and India.