20.3.19

India Builds Port in Indonesia

India is developing its maiden deep-sea port in Indonesia's Sabang close to Andaman and Nicobar Islands making its entry in the Southeast Asian amid China’s slew of connectivity plans for ASEAN under BRI.

The Sabang port is being developed in partnership with neighbour and strategic partner Indonesia. An Indian Coast Guard ship Vijit, is currently on a visit to Sabang, Indonesia, from March 17-20. The deep sea portwill give India wide access to Southeast Asia as a counter-balancing force. The port will be a key element in India's Indo-Pacific strategy.

A joint initiative to develop deep-sea port in Sabang in Indonesia’s Aceh province to enhance maritime connectivity as part of respective Indo-Pacific strategies was launched last year. India and Indonesia are trying to complement each other with proposed connectivity and infrastructure projects in the region.

During the visit of Prime Minister of India to Indonesia in May 2018, both sides had arrived at a “Shared Vision of Maritime Cooperation in the Indo Pacific” under which deepening economic and people-to-people exchanges, including connectivity with port of Sabang was identified as a key priority area.

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