Friday, 23 October 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Consulate General of India in Medan welcomed a delegation from the Karo Regency Government of North Sumatra to discuss opportunities for strengthening cooperation in several strategic sectors. The discussions focused on agriculture, education, culture, and tourism development.
The Karo delegation was led by Deputy Regent of Karo, Komando Tarigan, S.P. He was accompanied by Karo Regency Government Secretariat Assistant for Economy and Development Anderiasta Tarigan, as well as the Head of the Karo Regency Office of Culture, Youth, Sports, and Tourism, Juni Antomi Kemit.
The meeting was held at the Consulate General of India's office in Medan. Both sides discussed various cooperation programs, including preparations for the Karo Flower and Fruit Festival, one of the major annual events organized by the Karo Regency Government.
During the meeting, the Karo delegation presented preparations for the Karo Flower and Fruit Festival, which is scheduled to take place on August 29–30, 2026.
The festival serves as a platform to showcase Karo's agricultural wealth and cultural diversity. Various horticultural products, fruit varieties, flowers, traditional community customs, and the region's tourism potential will be featured during the event.
Beyond its cultural significance, the festival also contributes to local economic growth by promoting regional products and creating new opportunities for visitors from Indonesia and abroad.
Deputy Regent of Karo Komando Tarigan invited the Consul General of India in Medan to attend the event. At the same time, the Karo Government and the Indian delegation discussed opportunities to expand cooperation with India.
Consul General of India in Medan Ravi Shanker Goel expressed his appreciation for the invitation and welcomed the continuously growing relationship between the Consulate General of India in Medan and the Karo Regency Government.
"He emphasized that India places great importance on strengthening cooperation with regional governments across Indonesia and welcomes opportunities to further expand partnerships with Karo in agriculture, education, and cultural cooperation," according to a statement regarding the meeting.
During the discussions, both sides highlighted the development of the agricultural sector as an area with significant shared potential.
The Karo Regency Government and the Consulate General of India in Medan discussed strengthening institutional relations, improving agricultural training, exchanging knowledge, and developing human resources in the agricultural sector.
The cooperation also includes opportunities for sharing expertise between agricultural experts and institutions from India and Karo Regency.
The Consul General of India also offered training programs in India for several officials from the Karo Regency Government. The initiative is expected to improve the capacity of local government personnel and provide new insights into agricultural innovation.
In addition to agriculture, both sides explored cooperation in education through academic exchange programs, scholarships, teacher exchanges, and various capacity-building initiatives for educational institutions in both regions.
These efforts are expected to provide students, educators, and educational institutions in Karo with greater opportunities to establish partnerships with educational institutions in India.
The meeting also addressed opportunities to expand cultural cooperation through greater participation in cultural events, art exchanges, and the development of direct connections between communities in India and Indonesia.
The Consul General of India highlighted the richness and diversity of India's cultural heritage and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing collaboration with Karo in implementing various activities aimed at strengthening cultural relations between the two countries.
In the cultural sector, the Consul General of India also offered Indian films that could be screened by the Karo Regency Government through joint film viewing activities (NOBAR). The initiative is expected to serve as a form of cultural exchange for the community.
Furthermore, both sides discussed tourism promotion opportunities by introducing Karo Regency's tourist destinations alongside various tourism attractions in India.
Cooperation in tourism promotion, cultural exchange, and community engagement is expected to further strengthen relations between India and Karo while creating new development opportunities at the regional level.
Relations between India and Indonesia have existed for centuries and have been shaped by trade, culture, and maritime connections. The partnership continues to develop within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership covering various sectors, including trade, investment, education, agriculture, tourism, culture, science, and technology.
The cooperation between the Consulate General of India in Medan and regional governments in North Sumatra plays an important role in strengthening bilateral relations at the local level.
Consul General of India in Medan Ravi Shanker Goel reaffirmed his commitment to expanding cooperation with provincial and regional governments across Sumatra in various strategic areas.
This partnership is expected to encourage sustainable cooperation, strengthen economic development, deepen people-to-people relations between the two countries, and create mutual benefits for India and Indonesia. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
