Economy

The statement comes at a time when global energy markets are facing pressure from geopolitical tensions, especially the situation in the Middle East. India and Australia expressed deep concern over the wider consequences of these disruptions, including their impact on energy, resources, commodity supply chains and prices. This makes the statement highly relevant because energy security today is linked with national security, inflation control, industrial stability and maritime trade.

The meeting was held on 6 July 2026 and was co-chaired by Benjamin Gallezot, France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals, and Kameshwar Saip, Joint Secretary, National Critical Mineral Mission, Ministry of Mines. The discussions brought together officials and technical experts from both sides at a time when critical minerals are becoming central to clean energy, electric mobility, defence technology, electronics and advanced manufacturing.

The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ms. Adriana Castro, General Director of Foreign Trade from Costa Rica. Both sides discussed the current state of bilateral trade and investment relations and noted the steady rise in merchandise trade, which reached approximately USD 391 million in 2025–26.

The 13th Joint Committee meeting was co-chaired by Shri Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General for Trade, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia. Delegations from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam participated in the discussions.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Shared Vision of India-Indonesia on Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, first announced in 2018. They also underlined their support for a free, open, transparent, rules-based, peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. This is important at a time when the Indo-Pacific is witnessing strategic competition, maritime pressure, supply-chain uncertainty and new security challenges.