Indonesia urges ASEAN, India to deepen regional resilience

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia urged ASEAN and India to strengthen regional resilience through maritime cooperation, joint food and energy monitoring, healthcare collaboration and updated trade rules.

Speaking at the ASEAN-India Post Ministerial Conference in Manila, Foreign Minister Sugiono called for concrete security and economic initiatives under the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.

Indonesia’s strategy centers on strengthening maritime infrastructure to protect critical supply routes from geopolitical tensions and global disruptions, Sugiono said in a statement,  released by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He proposed expanding joint search-and-rescue exercises, increasing coast guard training and establishing rapid-response humanitarian aid mechanisms across shared waters.

The proposals also include strengthening port capacity and developing a sustainable blue economy in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Sugiono highlighted Indonesia’s northernmost city, Sabang, as a potential bridge between the two regions.

Located less than 200 kilometers from India’s Andaman Islands, Sabang could become a hub for trade, cruise tourism and cultural exchanges, he said.

Indonesia also proposed a joint real-time monitoring platform for food and energy reserves to help address geopolitical instability and climate-related disruptions.

In healthcare, Jakarta proposed an ASEAN-India Health Resilience Track covering pharmaceutical research, vaccine and diagnostic production, healthcare worker training and early-warning systems for future pandemics.

Indonesia urged the two sides to accelerate their review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement, saying updated rules would support simpler and more efficient trade.

Sugiono called for the ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2026-2030 to deliver tangible, long-term prosperity and security for people across both regions.