Advancing India–Indonesia Cooperation under the IPOI Marine Resources Pillar: Perspectives on the Andaman–Aceh Corridor
09 September 2026
The Indo-Pacific is a shared maritime region that underpins global trade, regional connectivity, and the prosperity of littoral states. As strategic competition and non-traditional maritime challenges continue to evolve, ensuring that this region remains peaceful, stable, and resilient requires practical and inclusive cooperation among regional partners. The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) reflects these shared principles by promoting practical collaboration across seven thematic pillars to advance peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the region.
As Co-lead of the IPOI Marine Resources Pillar, Indonesia is uniquely positioned to shape regional cooperation on sustainable marine governance, marine scientific research, environmental stewardship, blue economy development, and capacity building. As the IPOI increasingly shifts from broad policy aspirations towards practical implementation, there is growing interest in identifying concrete avenues through which these objectives can be translated into meaningful regional initiatives.
India and Indonesia have long shared a close maritime relationship rooted in their common interests in maintaining a safe, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean region. Existing cooperation has expanded across maritime security, naval engagement, capacity building, and economic connectivity. Building on these foundations, there is increasing scope to explore how bilateral cooperation can also support the objectives of the IPOI Marine Resources Pillar.
Located at the crossroads of the eastern Indian Ocean and the northern approaches to the Malacca Strait, the corridor connects two strategically important maritime regions that share interests in sustainable marine governance, maritime connectivity, marine scientific research, disaster resilience, and blue economy development.
Importantly, cooperation between Aceh Province and India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands is hardly a new concept. Building on the 2018 Shared Vision of Maritime Cooperation, India and Indonesia established a Joint Task Force on Aceh–Andaman connectivity, which adopted a Plan of Action during its inaugural meeting in Banda Aceh in 2019. The Plan of Action identified six priority areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, connectivity development, marine and fisheries, tourism, and exchanges in culture, science, and technology.
This momentum is further reflected in a growing interest in the Andaman–Aceh Corridor, particularly following initiatives by the Government of Aceh and its Indian counterparts to strengthen connectivity between Aceh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The corridor presents a strategically significant maritime space linking the Indian Ocean and the approaches to the Malacca Strait and therefore offers a relevant context for examining the intersection of India–Indonesia strategic cooperation, maritime security, connectivity, and regional resilience.
In light of these developments, this joint webinar seeks to facilitate an exchange of perspectives between the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and Indo-Pacific Strategic Intelligence (ISI), bringing together practitioners, academicians, and researchers from India and Indonesia to identify practical pathways for advancing bilateral cooperation under the IPOI. Specifically, the discussion will seek to generate policy-relevant insights and recommendations by addressing three key questions:
How can India–Indonesia cooperation contribute to strengthening strategic autonomy and resilience amid an evolving Indo-Pacific strategic environment?
What should be the priority areas and tangible deliverables for Indonesia’s effective co-leadership of the IPOI Marine Resources Pillar through 2030?
How can the Andaman-Aceh Corridor serve as a platform for identifying practical opportunities for India–Indonesia cooperation under the IPOI?
Speakers
VAdm Pradeep Chauhan
AVSM & Bar, VSM, IN (Retd)
Director-General (NMF)
Dr Muhammad Hadianto
Chairman (ISI)
Speakers’ Abstracts
Cmde Manish Sinha, Senior Fellow, NMF – “Middle Power Cooperation in Navigating Great Power Competition: An Indian Perspective”
Dr Makmur Keliat, PhD – “Institutionalisation of Trust between India and Indonesia through the Implementation of IPOI: An Indonesian Perspective”
Dr Ristian Atriandi Supriyanto – “An Indonesian Perspective on the Aceh–Andaman Corridor: Aligning Indonesia’s National Strategic Priorities”
Capt Ranendra S Sawan, Senior Fellow, NMF – “India’s Perspective on Practical Opportunities under the IPOI: Strengthening Maritime Cooperation in the Andaman–Aceh Corridor”
Programme
Audience
The webinar will bring together academics and think tank researchers, government officials, maritime security practitioners, private sector representatives, students, and members of the media from India and Indonesia.
Language
This webinar will be conducted in English.
Expected Outcomes
Wednesday,
09 September 2026
Zoom Cloud Meetings
(1200-1430 WIB)
Concept Note and Programme
To download the Concept Note and Programme, click here.