Aceh and India Accelerate Sabang-Andaman Cooperation, Wali Nanggroe Aceh's Special Staff Discusses Strengthening Strategic Cooperation
The Wali Nanggroe Aceh's Special Staff for Diplomacy and Foreign Cooperation, Dr. Mohammad Raviq, discussed strengthening strategic cooperation between Aceh and India with the Consul General of the Republic of India in Medan, Ravi Shanker Goel. One of the main agenda items discussed was accelerating the development of maritime connectivity between Sabang and the Andaman-Nicobar Islands.
The Head of the Cooperation and Public Relations Division of the Wali Nanggroe Institute, Zulfikar Idris, stated that the meeting, which took place at the Indian Consulate General in Medan on Sunday, August 2, 2026, was held under the direction of His Excellency (PYM) Wali Nanggroe Aceh as part of efforts to strengthen international diplomacy that impacts Aceh's development.
"This meeting is a follow-up to the PYM Wali Nanggroe's directive to strengthen international relations that provide tangible benefits for Aceh's development," said Zulfikar.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ravi Shanker Goel conveyed his respects to the PYM Wali Nanggroe Aceh and wished him a speedy recovery and return to his activities after undergoing minor surgery.
One important topic of discussion was the follow-up to the meeting between the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on July 7, 2026. During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to strengthen strategic maritime connectivity between Sabang Port and the Andaman-Nicobar Islands.
Ravi Shanker Goel revealed that the Indian Government had sent an official letter to the Aceh Government as a first step to discuss the implementation of this cooperation.
During the meeting, the Indian Consul General also spoke by phone with the Deputy Governor of Aceh, Fadhlullah. The two discussed Ravi Shanker Goel's planned visit to Aceh in the near future to strengthen coordination and accelerate the implementation of various cooperation agendas.
Mohammad Raviq assessed that developing Sabang-Andaman connectivity represents a strategic opportunity that can strengthen Aceh's position as Indonesia's gateway to the Indian Ocean region.
"This collaboration not only strengthens relations between Indonesia and India, but also opens up greater opportunities for Aceh in the trade, investment, logistics, tourism, education, and blue economy development sectors. We hope the benefits can be directly felt by the people of Aceh," he said.
According to Raviq, Aceh's geographical position along international shipping routes is a crucial asset for making Sabang a connectivity hub and a new center of economic growth in the region.
In addition to developing the maritime sector, the two sides also discussed opportunities for cooperation in education, health, culture, human resource development, trade promotion, investment, and inter-institutional collaboration.
Raviq emphasized that the Wali Nanggroe Institute supports any initiative that aligns with the spirit of peace, development, and international partnerships.
"The Wali Nanggroe Institute is ready to support constructive communication and collaboration between the Government of Aceh, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, the Government of India, and all stakeholders, in accordance with the authority mandated by Law Number 11 of 2006 concerning the Governance of Aceh," he said.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from both parties to continue strengthening communication and coordination to realize various opportunities for cooperation. The development of Sabang-Andaman connectivity is expected to be a catalyst for increasing trade, investment, logistics, and tourism, while strengthening relations between the people of Aceh and India and strengthening Aceh's position as Indonesia's economic gateway in the Indian Ocean region.[]
