Welcome to the website of the Consulate General of India in Medan.  Soon after India’s Independence, a decision had been taken in 1948 to open four new diplomatic missions, one of which was CGI, Medan.  The Consulate General of India in Medan was opened in 1949 primarily because of the large concentration of Indian nationals in the region.  The premises is a beautiful Dutch-time colonial villa situated in the heart of the city at Jl. Diponegoro. 

Sumatra is also important to India in terms of strategic relevance as we share a maritime boundary and the closest islands of India and Indonesia are only 80 kms apart.  Belawan Port, being Indonesia’s western-most naval base, maintains regular contact with Indian Navy through periodic patrols.  As part of cooperative effort towards countering piracy, smuggling, poaching and transnational crimes, coordinated naval patrol is conducted off Andaman Sea and piracy-prone Malacca Strait by the Indian and Indonesian Navies at regular intervals.   Indian Navy also provides escort to Indonesian ships in the Andaman Sea.  Mutual training programmes and ship visits between the two Navies have generated goodwill and strengthened relations between the two countries.

Sumatra, with abundant natural resources, is one of the world’s biggest commodity producing regions.  It contributes 40% of Indonesia’s national income and 50% of the total foreign exchange.  India imports around one million ton of palm oil, besides rubber, cocoa, tobacco, betel nut, paper and paper pulp, gambier, etc.  India exports refined petroleum products, heavy machinery, power turbines, engineering goods, textiles, auto components etc.

There are around 40,000 strong persons of Indian origin in Sumatra, while approximately 600 Indian professionals work for various Indian and Indonesian companies in Sumatra.  The large concentration of the Indian community was one of the reasons the Government of India considered while opening its diplomatic mission in Medan.

We are sure you will find the website informative and useful.  Please drop us an e-mail should you have any suggestion to improve it.