New Delhi/Jakarta: India is set to back Indonesia in developing its own customised Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), in a move that underlines the growing international acceptance of India’s electoral management expertise and voting technology ecosystem. The initiative is expected to be one of several key outcomes linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jakarta, where both sides are looking to elevate cooperation in areas ranging from democratic processes and critical minerals to maritime connectivity and regional security.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Indonesia plans to build voting machines suited to its domestic electoral requirements with technical support from India. The proposed collaboration is being seen as an important step in broadening bilateral engagement beyond traditional diplomatic and trade ties, while also showcasing India’s institutional experience in conducting large-scale elections in a diverse and populous democracy.
The EVM cooperation is significant because it reflects confidence in India’s election administration model, which has often been cited for managing one of the world’s most complex democratic exercises. By extending support to Indonesia for the development of country-specific systems, India is also positioning itself as a partner in democratic capacity-building and governance technology.
Beyond election systems, the two countries are expected to sharpen their focus on critical minerals and industrial supply chains. Sources indicated that India is likely to invest in manufacturing linked to steel, nickel and rare earth permanent magnets in Indonesia. The proposed investments are aimed at reducing vulnerabilities in strategic supply chains and ensuring more reliable access to raw materials and components that are increasingly essential for sectors such as clean energy, electric mobility, electronics and defence manufacturing.
Indonesia occupies an important place in the global critical minerals landscape, especially because of its substantial nickel reserves and its growing role in mineral processing. For India, stronger collaboration in this sector fits into a wider strategy of securing access to resources needed for industrial expansion and technological growth. The discussions are also expected to support both countries’ efforts to build more resilient economic partnerships in the face of global supply disruptions and geopolitical competition over key resources.
Maritime cooperation has also emerged as a central pillar of the talks, with both sides expected to work together on the development of Sabang port. Located near the entrance to the Strait of Malacca, Sabang carries strategic significance because of its proximity to one of the busiest global shipping routes. It also lies relatively close to India’s Great Nicobar port project, making it a potentially important node in the maritime architecture of the eastern Indian Ocean.
The planned cooperation on Sabang is expected to strengthen India-Indonesia coordination in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the areas of connectivity, trade routes, maritime domain awareness and strategic infrastructure. For New Delhi, engagement in Sabang complements its broader efforts to enhance its presence in the region and deepen partnerships with Southeast Asian nations that occupy key positions along critical sea lanes.
Prime Minister Modi met Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Istana Merdeka in Jakarta, where the two leaders held bilateral talks aimed at expanding the scope of the relationship. Modi signed the visitors’ book at the Presidential Palace before the formal discussions, which officials said covered a broad agenda including defence, economic cooperation, regional stability and people-to-people exchanges.
The bilateral engagement comes at a time when both India and Indonesia are looking to reinforce strategic autonomy while building issue-based partnerships in an increasingly contested geopolitical environment. Their shared interest in maritime security, diversified supply chains and stronger regional institutions has added fresh momentum to the relationship.
Defence cooperation is also expected to feature prominently in the discussions, with both countries seeking to increase coordination in areas such as naval engagement, defence training and strategic consultations. As major maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, India and Indonesia have repeatedly emphasised the importance of a free, open and rules-based regional order.
Officials see the evolving partnership as one that is gradually moving from goodwill and historical ties toward a more structured strategic framework. The likely agreements and understandings emerging from Modi’s visit are expected to reflect that shift, with cooperation now spreading across governance technology, industrial investment, connectivity and maritime infrastructure.
If finalised, support for Indonesia’s EVM initiative would add a new dimension to India’s diplomatic outreach by combining technological know how with democratic institution-building. At the same time, progress in minerals and port development would reinforce the economic and strategic foundations of the bilateral relationship.
Taken together, the expected outcomes of the visit suggest that India and Indonesia are not merely expanding sectoral cooperation but are attempting to shape a long-term partnership rooted in shared strategic interests. With electoral technology, critical minerals and maritime infrastructure all on the table, the Modi Prabowo talks may mark an important step in redefining the scope of India-Indonesia ties for the coming decade.