New Delhi: Indonesia is keen to re-establish direct flights with India, according to persons aware of the matter, signalling a move toward restoring normalcy after the suspension of flights in the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic.
The delay in resumption of flights has put a dampener on the Southeast Asian nation’s economic outreach to India.
According to the persons cited above, Indonesia is making a concerted push for Indian investments in pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and renewable energy, particularly in electric batteries.
In the last few years, Jakarta has worked to attract major names in the electric vehicle ecosystem, including Tesla, to invest and build a presence in the key Asian market. Some Indonesian companies have also invested in India’s booming technology sector. However, the suspension of direct flights made scaling up bilateral economic ties difficult.
Direct flights were established in 2016 during a visit by Indonesian president Joko Widodo to India by Garuda Indonesia, one of the country’s largest airlines.
“Noting the importance of connectivity for enhancement of trade, tourism and people-to-people contacts, the leaders (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Widodo) welcomed the establishment of flights by Garuda Indonesia between Jakarta and Mumbai starting from December 2016,” both countries said in a joint statement at the time.
“They also encouraged direct flights from India to Indonesia by the airlines of India,” the statement said. .
In addition, other airlines are pushing to establish routes in the region to boost trade.
Vietnam, for instance, is another major regional economy that is pushing for more air connectivity with India.
Indonesia is a key economic partner for India in Southeast Asia, with bilateral trade of almost $20 billion in 2019-20.
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