Embassy of India in Jakarta along with the Policy Analysis and Development Agency (PADA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, and Provincial Government of Aceh & North Sumatra organized an India-Indonesia Investment Forum in Banda Aceh.
IIIF explored the potential of cooperation and to enhance business connectivity between the Provinces in Sumatra Islands of Indonesia and Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.
In his speech in the forum, Representative of Provincial Secretary of Aceh welcomed the Indian companies to the region and gave them an overall outline on the potentials and opportunities for economic cooperation that can be developed between Aceh & North Sumatera and Andaman-Nicobar, namely tourism, especially cruise tourism and eco-tourism; air transport connectivity, through regular commercial flights from Indonesia-Port Blair; and sea transportation to facilitate trade between the two regions. He also underscored that development of basic infrastructure was a top priority for their government and the authorities would facilitate Indian investments in the region and trade relations with India.
Director of Tourism, Government of Andaman and Nicobar, in his presentation conveyed that Indian companies are exploring options to enhance elements of holistic development in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including key infrastructure projects, digital connectivity, green energy, desalination plants, waste management, promotion of fisheries, and tourism-based projects. Aceh and North Sumatera provinces of Indonesia, on the other hand, offers tremendous potentials for cooperation. These provinces are rich in natural resources, such as minerals: oil, gas, coal; palm oil, rubber, betel nut, coconut, as well as sea and freshwater fish cultivation.
A research done by Policy Analysis and Development Agency (PADA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and AL Muslim University of Bireuen Aceh, the potential and opportunities for economic cooperation that can be developed between Aceh & North Sumatera and Andaman-Nicobar, include:
(1) tourism, especially cruise tourism and eco-tourism.
(2) air transport connectivity, through regular commercial flights from Indonesia-Port Blair or via connecting flight in Singapore / Kuala Lumpur, or by charter flight
(3) sea transportation in the form of RoRo vessel shipping to facilitate trade between the two regions.
