Anwar, Modi announce deeper Malaysia-India partnership in trade, security and education
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and India will accelerate cooperation across key sectors including trade, semiconductors, digital economy, education and security following high-level talks between the two countries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said at a joint press conference today.
Anwar described the bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “vital, strategic and critical” in advancing Malaysia-India relations, noting that the long-standing partnership which dates back to 1957 was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024.
He said deep historical ties, strong people-to-people connections and growing economic cooperation would continue to drive collaboration in areas such as trade and investment, the digital economy, local-currency trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, food security, defence, education and national security.
“This cooperation is truly comprehensive,” Anwar said, adding that it also includes technical and vocational education and training (TVET), healthcare, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
Anwar said both governments demonstrated strong commitment to swift implementation of agreed initiatives, highlighted by the exchange of 11 documents, including memoranda of understanding and letters of exchange.
“These agreements extend beyond traditional bilateral arrangements and cover areas such as peacekeeping, semiconductor cooperation, healthcare and security,” he said.
On trade, Anwar said Malaysia stands to benefit from India’s rapid economic growth, stressing the need to expand bilateral trade beyond the US$18.59 billion recorded in 2025.
He also pointed to the growing use of local currencies in bilateral trade and investment, noting that Bank Negara Malaysia and the Central Bank of India have been working closely to facilitate transactions using the ringgit and the rupee.
Education, Anwar said, remains a cornerstone of bilateral ties, with many Malaysians having been educated in India and an increasing number of Indian students studying in Malaysia.
He praised the global recognition achieved by Indian centres of excellence in recent years and said Malaysia would explore opportunities to send more students to India in selected disciplines.
Tourism and connectivity were also identified as key growth areas, following a sharp rise in travel between the two countries over the past year.
Anwar said visa liberalisation and increased air connectivity could further strengthen tourism under the “Malaysia to Asia” and “Incredible India” initiatives.
On regional and international issues, Anwar expressed appreciation for Modi’s firm and consistent support for peace efforts worldwide, including in Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East, particularly Gaza.
As a reflection of strong bilateral ties, Anwar announced Malaysia’s support for India’s decision to open a new Indian consulate in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
