Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently congratulated Narendra Modi for his re-election as India’s prime minister, saying that Indonesia looks forward to deepening its ties with New Delhi. 

Modi recently secured the backing of its political allies for a third term. The Indian politician, who has been in power since 2014, is set to take his oath this weekend. World leaders, including Jokowi, immediately sent congratulatory messages. 

“Congratulations to Prime Minister Modi for the successful completion and result of the 2024 Indian General Election,” Jokowi said on his official account on social media platform X. 

“Look forward to the enhanced Indonesia-India comprehensive strategic partnership for the mutual prosperity of our two countries and the region,” Jokowi said. 

In 2018, both countries announced a comprehensive strategic partnership, as they agreed to take ties to greater heights. 

Earlier this year, Indonesia had its general elections which saw the current defense minister Prabowo Subianto claiming a landslide victory. Modi congratulated Prabowo a few days after the February election took place, and also months before the General Election Commission (KPU) declared the official results. Likewise, Modi said at the time he “looks forward to working with the new presidency” to strengthen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Indonesia-India trade totaled almost $27 billion throughout 2023 and had already reached $6.5 billion in the first three months of 2024. India was Indonesia’s 20th largest foreign investor in the first quarter of 2024. Foreign direct investment (FDI) from India totaled $68.2 million with the money going to 1,085 projects, government data showed. 

The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) said recently that India would remain a key economic partner in Indonesia’s next administration, regardless of who becomes Jokowi’s successor. 

“Considering the strategic importance of export and inbound FDI across all presidential candidates, we really believe that India will remain to be seen as the most promising non-traditional economic partner by the Indonesian government, even in the next administration,” Apindo chairwoman Shinta Kamdani told a virtual conference, a day before the February election. 

“Whoever wins [the election] will want to enhance Indonesia-India’s bilateral economic agenda,” Shinta said.