PM Modi Indonesia visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Indonesia on a state visit, as the southeast Asian country readies to become the latest to adopt Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system, and make greater use of India’s digital public infrastructure.
What is Indonesia’s plan about India’s digital infrastructure?
While other countries, including France, Singapore and UAE have adopted UPI primarily to facilitate cross-border payments for Indian travellers and businesses, Indonesia’s intentions go well beyond adopting the digital payments system pioneered by India.
Experts believe Indonesia wants to use India’s digital public infrastructure as a blueprint to develop its indigenous digital ecosystem, including building interoperable platforms for commerce, digital identity, and public services that can then be exported to the ASEAN region.
India’s growing partnership with Indonesia– the world’s largest Muslim nation– is expected to figure prominently during PM Modi’s visit, with digital cooperation being one of the key pillars of the two countries’ partnership, according to officials.
“From food security and digital governance to healthcare, agriculture and defence, India’s successful public policy models are becoming important references for Indonesia’s own development journey,” they said.
Beyond UPI and digital services- What else is India-Indonesia partnership about?
Beyond cooperation in digital services, Indonesia seeks to improve food security, agriculture, and healthcare delivery by replicating India’s key public policy initiatives, including the Public Distribution System, AgriStack, rice fortification, fertilizer subsidy reforms, PM Poshan, and the Jan Aushadhi program.
Indonesia’s ambitious free nutritious meals program has drawn inspiration from India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme, while its Red and White Village Cooperatives initiative is exploring collaboration with India to provide affordable medicines through the Jan Aushadhi model, helping improve access to healthcare in rural areas.
Further, India and Indonesia are building a strong defence partnership, with active projects in defense manufacturing, technology transfer, military training, and maritime cooperation.
How UPI will be implemented in Indonesia?
The proposed UPI-QRIS linkage is at the heart of India-Indonesia partnership in digital public infrastructure, is aimed to facilitate easier cross-border payments between the two countries, benefitting businesses, tourists and traders.
This payment corridor is expected to facilitate transactions and boost tourism and trade for the approximately 1.7 million Indian tourists who visit Indonesia, especially Bali, each year. The country is also building the Indonesia Open Network (ION), an open digital commerce platform inspired by India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
PM Modi arrives in Indonesia
On Monday, PM Narendra Modi arrived in Indonesia on the first leg of his three-nation tour, aimed at further strengthening India’s Act East Policy, MAHASAGAR Vision and its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
In a special gesture, PM Modi was received at the airport by Indonesian President Subianto. In addition, four ministers were also present to receive the Prime Minister, who was accorded a traditional ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour.
“Landed in Jakarta. I’m touched by President Prabowo Subianto’s gesture of welcoming me at the airport,” Modi said in a social media post.
First published on: Jul 07, 2026 12:50 AM IST
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