Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Visited India as the Republic Day Chief Guest

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the President of Indonesia came to India on three-day visit from 24 January 2011 to 26 January 2011 as the Chief Guest at the Republic day in India. During his India visit, India and Indonesia signed a total of 18 business MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings). This was Susilo’s second visit to India.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier visited India in November 2005. During that visit India and Indonesia had signed India-Indonesia strategic partnership.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is a retired army general officer of Indonesian Army and the incumbent President of Indonesia. He had won the Presidential election in 2004, defeating incumbent President Megawati Sukernoputri. Susilo was re-elected as the President of Indonesia for the second time in 2009.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the chief guest on the occasion of the Republic day shows the importance India attaches to its bilateral relations with Indonesia. Prior to him, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was the chief guest at the last Republic Day in India.

Indonesia’s first President Sukarno was the chief guest at India’s first republic day on 26 January 1950.