NEW DELHI: India and Indonesia on Monday mentioned the proposed growth of connectivity between Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Aceh province in addition to methods to advertise commerce and tourism between the 2 areas. The subject was mentioned at a gathering of the Joint Task Force that befell in Port Blair, in response to the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian delegation was led by Vishvas Sapkal, Joint Secretary (South) within the MEA, whereas the Indonesian delegation was headed by Jatmiko H Prasetyo, Director for South and Central Asian Affairs within the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.
“The second edition of the Joint Task Force (JTF) meeting on development of connectivity between Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Aceh Province, Indonesia, took place in Port Blair on December 19,” the MEA stated.
It stated the 2 sides took inventory of the progress made and the challenges confronted in creating connectivity between Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Aceh because the first JTF assembly in 2019.
“To unleash the economic potential of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Aceh, the two sides also discussed ways to further promote trade, tourism and people to people contacts between the two regions, and the status of projects for port related infrastructure in and round Sabang,” the MEA stated in a press release.
To enhance commerce and funding, the JTF agreed to reinforce alternatives for interplay between enterprise chambers and potential buyers on either side.
“With international tourism reviving after the pandemic, the two sides agreed to encourage sail tourism, cruise ship visits, and interaction between tour operators,” it stated.
The MEA stated the event of connectivity between Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Aceh province is a key aspect of the shared imaginative and prescient of maritime cooperation within the Indo-Pacific, agreed in May 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
The third version of the JTF is predicted to happen in Aceh in 2023.
