A New Chapter in India–Indonesia Statistical Cooperation
In a significant move to foster stronger international collaboration in official data systems, India and Indonesia held a bilateral meeting on July 16, 2025. The talks took place at Khurshid Lal Bhawan in New Delhi, hosted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Dr. Sonny Harry B. Harmadi, Vice Minister of Statistics, accompanied by Ambassador Ms. Ina H. Krisnamurthi and other senior officials. On the Indian side, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of MoSPI, led the discussions along with key ministry representatives.
Driving Forces Behind the Meeting
This high-level dialogue focused on exploring collaboration in key areas of Official Statistics. Indonesia expressed strong interest in India’s approach to GDP estimation, data harmonization, AI in statistical systems, and modernization strategies under MoSPI’s guidance.
The primary objectives were clear: to understand India’s statistical evolution and identify joint areas for capacity building, especially in technology-enabled surveys, data integration across departments, and policy decision-making frameworks.
India’s Experience Inspires Engagement
In his keynote address, Dr. Saurabh Garg shared MoSPI’s recent initiatives, including:
- Use of technology in large-scale surveys
- Reduction in report release timeframes
- Efforts in alternative data sources
- Harmonization of datasets across ministries and states
He emphasized India’s commitment to building resilient, timely, and AI-ready statistical systems. This resonated strongly with Indonesia’s reform goals in their national statistical setup.
Indonesia’s Key Areas of Interest
Dr. Harmadi appreciated India’s progress in the realm of official statistics. He conveyed Indonesia’s interest in understanding:
- Dedicated GDP estimation methodology
- Use of AI in official data management
- Digitization of agricultural statistics
- Advanced sampling methods for statistical development
- Harmonization of trade statistics
This highlights a shared vision to enhance statistical cooperation, not just bilaterally, but possibly through trilateral or multilateral arrangements.
Commitment to Long-Term Collaboration
Shri P. R. Meshram, Director General (Data Governance), opened the meeting by stressing the need for sustained bilateral cooperation and innovation in statistics. He pointed out that strong data governance plays a key role in national development, especially when powered by AI and digital tools.
Both sides agreed on the importance of a faculty exchange program, expert-level cooperation, and potential formalization of partnerships through an MoU.
Path Forward: Mutual Growth Through Shared Knowledge
The meeting marked a turning point in India–Indonesia relations in the statistical domain. It laid the foundation for regular dialogue, technical exchange, and collaborative research in official statistics. With growing complexities in data ecosystems, such cooperation is timely and much needed.
MoSPI and Indonesia’s Statistical Ministry aim to co-develop methods that ensure accurate, timely, and policy-relevant statistics. Their mutual goal is to support evidence-based governance in both nations.
Conclusion
The bilateral meeting reflected the strong intent of both governments to modernize statistical systems. By sharing innovations and addressing common challenges, India and Indonesia are poised to become role models in global statistical cooperation.
This engagement proves that when nations work together on data, they don’t just share numbers — they share progress, precision, and purpose.
