A bilateral meeting was convened between Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India and a delegation from Republic of Indonesia on 16.07.2025 at Khurshid Lal Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi.   

The Indonesian delegation was led by His Excellency Dr. Sonny Harry B. Harmadi, Vice Minister of Statistics, Republic of Indonesia and included Her Excellency Ms. Ina H. Krisnamurthi, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to India and Bhutan along with other senior officials from the Government of Indonesia.  Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI headed the Indian delegation comprising of senior Ministry officials.

The Indonesian delegation wanted to understand and explore collaboration opportunities in several key areas of Official Statistics, inter-alia, understanding the dedicated GDP methodology with a focus on data collection, data consistency and productivity statistics; current implementation of AI in official statistics at NSO India and strategies for AI-ready data; the steps taken by MoSPI to modernize Official Statistics; approaches to integrating data from various Departments/Ministries/State Governments; and the key challenges and opportunities in transforming India’s National Statistical System.

 

The meeting commenced with a welcome address by Shri P. R. Meshram, Director General (Data Governance), MoSPI, who underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation, leveraging technological innovations, and pursuing excellence in statistical systems and practices.

In his address, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the Ministry with respect to statistical reforms, such as the use of technology in surveys, reduction of time lag in release of reports, the harmonization of official datasets and the potential of alternative data sources. He also emphasized the significance of the engagement and welcomed this exchange of ideas between the two countries in the field of official statistics.

During the proceedings, His Excellency Dr. Sonny Harry B. Harmadi, Vice Minister of Statistics of the Republic of Indonesia, expressed a keen interest in gaining insights from India on key statistical challenges currently faced by Indonesia, particularly in areas where India has demonstrated effective practices, such as GDP estimation, harmonization of official data sets, the modernization of statistical systems and quality assurance framework.

The Government of Indonesia expressed its interest in collaboration in the area which inter-alia includes, Harmonization of Trade Statistics, Digitization of Agriculture data and enhancement of IT and Advance Sampling Methods for Statistical Development, etc.

The meeting provided an important platform for charting out the possible area of knowledge exchange and to reaffirm the mutual commitment of both countries to strengthening statistical capacity through faculty development programme, exchange of expertise and cooperation through formal MoU (bilateral/trilateral) and dialogue.

Bilateral statistical cooperation to pursue knowledge exchange on AI and data harmonization and explore formal MoU The meeting concentrated on cooperative measures in Official Statistics, including GDP estimation methodology (data collection, consistency and productivity statistics), adoption of AI for statistical processes and strategies for AI ready data, modernization of national statistical systems, and integration and harmonization of datasets. Indonesia signalled interest in collaboration on harmonizing trade statistics, digitizing agricultural data, enhancing IT and advanced sampling methods, and agreed to pursue capacity building via faculty development, expert exchanges and a formal memorandum of understanding to govern cooperation.