Modi Conducts Three-Nation Indo-Pacific Tour to Promote MAHASAGAR
Act East and MAHASAGAR
From 6 to 11 July 2026, India’s PM Narendra Modi conducted a three-nation #IndoPacific tour to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. The overseas mission aims to reinforce India’s Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR Vision by fostering trade, defense and maritime security.
Indonesia
India and Indonesia have a trade base of USD 28 billion, which has remained much in favor of Indonesia and is more or less stagnant over the past few years. Thus, Modi aims to redress the trade imbalance and to give a new impetus to bilateral trade. Currently, the trade is anchored by Indonesia’s exports of coal and palm oil to India, with coal accounting for nearly USD 8 billion and palm oil adding another USD 4 billion. On the other hand, India exports mostly refined petroleum, commercial vehicles, and agricultural produce to Indonesia.
Fourteen pacts were signed covering #CriticalMinerals, Defense and Maritime Security. Indonesia is among the world’s top producers of #Nickel and India needs it for its strategic industries. As part of a USD 630 million package, India is going to supply BrahMos missiles to Indonesia.
Australia
Bilateral trade between India and Australia was USD 34 billion in 2025. Australia enjoys a trade surplus, mainly through the supply of liquefied natural gas, coal, and copper.
Modi and his Australian counterpart Albanese attended the 3rd India-Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne. India secured a long-term agreement with Australia to secure the supply of uranium.
New Zealand
India and New Zealand have a bilateral trade worth USD 4.2 billion. Modi and his New Zealand’s counterpart Luxon agreed to double the trade to USD 8.4 billion by 2030. The two sides signed 18 cooperation documents. India and New Zealand will cooperate in dairy production. New Zealand agreed to join the Global Biofuels Alliance initiated by India.
Big Picture
Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand sit right at the interface between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Australia and India are also part of the Quad. In line with MAHASAGAR, India aims to be a central player within that strategic space.
With Australia and Indonesia signing Critical Minerals agreements with India, India has expanded and diversified its Critical Minerals Partnership to 24 countries in just two years. Furthermore, India aims to leverage nuclear energy to achieve its NetZero target by 2070.