Indonesia look at phenomenal growth of India as an opportunity to increase cooperation in trade and investment between the two nations. Indonesia also sees that India’s ‘look east policy’ as a great opportunity to come in and doing more business with India.

Some Indonesian big businesses have big investments in India, such as Salim and Ciputra Group in West Bengal whose cooperating to built a new industrial city and harbour. On the other hand, Indian big Indian businesses such as Nalco, Essar, Reliance, Bajaj and Tata have also put up their investments in Indonesia

Total Trade in 2007 for India and Indonesia was about US$6,736 million, with trade deficit still in favour to India. Indonesia still has big advantage in trading with India since more and more growth of consumption as the result of economic growth in India can become opportunities for Indonesian producers to enter the Indian market.

India – Indonesia trade 2007 (in millions):

India – Indonesia Trade Jan. – Feb. 2008

India General Trade Data (August 2008)

India’s exports during August, 2008 were valued at US$ 16005 million which was 26.9 per cent higher than the level at August, 2007 at the level of US $ 12614 million.

Cumulative value of exports for the period April - August, 2008 was US$ 81225 million (Rs.342477 crore) as against US$ 60101 million registering a growth of 35.1 per cent in Dollar terms.

India’s imports during August, 2008 were valued at US $ 29946 million representing an increase of 51.2 per cent over the level of imports valued at US $ 19805 million in August, 2007.

Cumulative value of imports for the period April- August, 2008 was US$ 130364 million (Rs.550123 crore) as against US$ 94664 million (Rs.387791 crore) registering a growth of 37.7 per cent in Dollar terms and 41.9 per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year.

Oil imports during August, 2008 were valued at US $ 10962 million which was 76.7 per cent higher than oil imports valued at US $ 6202 million in the corresponding period last year.

Non-oil imports during August, 2008 were estimated at US $ 18985 million which was 39.6 per cent higher than non-oil imports of US$ 13603 million in August, 2007.

The trade deficit for April- August, 2008 was estimated at US $ 49139 million which was higher than the deficit at US $ 34543 million during April - August, 2007.

In tourism, India has a high growth of upper middle class also boost up tourists from India to any other countries in the world. In 2007 India has sent about 7 million tourists, mostly to Europe America and South East Asia. This number is expected to grow large in years to come. Unfortunately Indonesia only got a little sliced of cake of Indian tourist despite the similar cultures and so many tourist spots in our country. This is the opportunity that Indonesia cannot afford to lose. Currently the ministry of tourism and culture of Indonesia have appointed an agency for tourism in India to grab the huge potential of Indian tourists to Indonesia.

Below are some statistics of Indian tourists to Indonesia compare to other countries in South East Asia: