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OPINION FEBRUARY 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 12

took India 60 years since indepen-
dence to reach a GDP of US$ 1 tril-
lion. India achieved a GDP of US$2
trillion in another 7 years in 2014.
Thereafter India achieved US$3 tril-
lion in another 7 years in 2021 and
then achieved US$4 trillion in anoth-
er just 4 years in 2025. India is likely
to become a US$ 5 trillion GDP in
another 2 years. It took India 60 years
to transition to lower-middle income
in 2007 from low-income country. In-
dia is set to touch US$ 4000 per cap-
ita in another 4 years in 2030 to tran-
sition to an Upper Middle-Income
country and join China and Indone-
sia at current classification. Recently,
India surpassed Japan to become the
4th largest economy in the world. By
2028 it will surpass Germany to be-
come the 3rd largest economy after
US and China. This internal trans-
formation in India, fuelled by strong
emphasis on structural domestic re-
forms, high spending on infrastruc-
ture, massive digital expansion, and
emphasis on manufacturing, Start-
Ups and R&D along with innovation
are the key drivers of India’s growth. President Droupadi Murmu meets Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
With the recent promulgation of
SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing during his visit to India last year (ANI Photo)
and Advancement of Nuclear Ener-
gy for Transforming India) Act, new Indonesia are India’s eighth largest Indonesia. When the hospitals are first mover in this area has been
pathways for utilisation of nuclear trading partner. ready, Indonesia will conserve valu- Indian Institute of Management,
energy including by installation of Following up on the outcomes of able foreign exchange spent by its Bangalore, a leading QS ranked
small modular reactors (SMRs) and the Presidential visit several forward nationals on obtaining treatment Business School, which proposes a
greater private sector participation looking exchanges have taken place abroad. Several Indian pharmaceu- tie up with Singhosari SEZ for com-
have emerged. in eight primary areas including dig- tical companies are also building mencing business management pro-
Much like Indonesia, India too ital, health, financial integration, en- factories here and 2026 year will see grammes. Archaeological Survey
has exhibited perseverance and ad- ergy, food sufficiency, defence, edu- some of them commencing produc- of India, which played a stellar role
herence to the reform agenda. The cation and culture have taken place. tion. Training of health professionals in the restoration of Angkor Wat in
Modi Government has over the past In the Digital and AI space, strong has become an ongoing programme Cambodia is now all set to begin co-
year, rationalised taxation - both di- Indonesian participation in the AI and latest AI based training meth- operation with the Ministry of Cul-
rect and indirect; consolidated 29 Impact Summit is expected with In- odologies are being adopted. India ture of Indonesia on the restoration
disparate laws into 4 labour codes; donesia as Co-Chair for the Working is also committed to make available of Prambanan Temple, as was decid-
increased focus on the maritime Group on Economic Growth and So- in Indonesia a world class facility for ed in the New Delhi Summit.
economy; incentivised MSMEs and cial Good at the Summit. Grounded liver transplants with high survival With India and Indonesia
adopted an enlightened approach to in ethical & human-centric advance- rate. Indian entrepreneurs are in- marching ahead firmly on their eco-
trade by finalising several FTAs in- ment driven by principles of inclu- volved quick roll out of the nutritious nomic transformation journey led by
cluding with UK and New Zealand sion, together India and Indonesia meals programme as well as support- our common visions of Developed
and dismantling protectionist barri- can play a pivotal role in shaping the ing the Merah-Putih cooperatives. India 2047 & Indonesia Emas 2045,
ers including Quality Control Orders Global AI discourse geared towards The learnings from Indian cooper- we as Comprehensive Strategic Part-
(QCOs). Indonesian exports to India People, Planet, and Progress. During ative movement, particularly from ners are not only deepening existing
are benefiting from these measures. 2026 we also expect greater integra- the branding experience of Amul can bilateral ties, but also exploring new
As we read this piece, India is about tion of our digital economies with the be useful in the Indonesian context. frontiers of cooperation in space,
to conclude the FTA with the EU, just UPI-QRIS tie up in place, collabora- There are initiatives in the pipeline defence and critical minerals. As
as Indonesia concluded IEU-CEPA a tions between capital markets as well to bring world class educational in- our two countries exhibit leadership
few months before. One unfinished as Central Banks of both countries stitutions to Indonesia. The dramat- of the Global South by registering
part of the agenda for both India and agreeing to settlements in local cur- ic reduction of solar power tariffs strong economic performance, com-
Indonesia is concluding the revision rencies. The Indonesian e-commerce in India has generated curiosity in mitment to domestic economic re-
of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods space will also brighten up this year Indonesia and Indian entrepreneurs form and social inclusion, by further
Agreement (AITIGA) and initiation with the entry of network centric are now involved in its replication strengthening our bilateral ties, we
of discussions on the bilateral trade open and inclusive digital commerce here in Indonesia. In defence the can together brave the current geo-
agreement. In the haze created by architecture. Indian endeavour has been to share political storms with greater resolve
tariff narratives, we sometimes lose Indian hospital giant, Apollo the learnings from our defence in- and fortitude.
sight of the ground reality that India Hospitals has teamed up with May- dustrialisation through which import
is Indonesia’s fourth or sometimes apada Hospitals to offer interna- dependence is being progressively Sandeep Chakravorty is India’s
third largest export destination and tional standard healthcare here in reduced. A ambassador to Indonesia

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