PM MODI's VISIT TO MALAYSIA WILL SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Malaysia from February 7 to 8, 2026, for bilateral talks with his counterpart, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In a special gesture, Prime Minister on his arrival in Kuala Lumpur was warmly received by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim along with Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan and Deputy Foreign Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Lukanisman bin Awang Sauni. Afterwards, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome. This is Prime Minister Modi’s third official visit to Malaysia and his first since the upgradation of bilateral ties.

After arriving in Malaysia, he went directly to the Mines Exhibition and Convention Centre, where he attended a major diaspora event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the strong cultural and emotional bonds linking India and Malaysia, and commended the diaspora for preserving and celebrating their traditions abroad.

"SELAMAT DATANG MODI JI"

Prime Minister Modi participated in a community reception in Kuala Lumpur titled "Selamat Datang Modi Ji," which was attended by approximately 15,000 people of Indian origin. This is one of the largest expatriate communities in Malaysia, reflecting the deep cultural ties between the two countries. Emphasizing the role of the Indian community, the Prime Minister said that this community acts as a living bridge between the two countries and remains a strong pillar of their historical friendship.

UNVEILED SEVERAL INITIATIVES  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held comprehensive talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim and unveiled several initiatives to further strengthen cooperation in the areas of defense and security, semiconductors, and trade, the digital economy, energy, education, tourism and regional issues.

SEVERAL MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING ARE SIGNED.

The two sides committed to work on sixteen agreements and engagements across different sectors, including disaster management, audiovisual co-production, combating and preventing corruption, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, health, and food security.

DEFENSE COOPERATION WAS MADE MORE COMPREHENSIVE

Both sides strengthened cooperation in counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and maritime security. Kuala Lumpur has long been perceived as pro-Pakistan at international fora. However, the PM's state visit sees a shift in position on cross-border terrorism, trade among others.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the prime ministers of both countries strongly condemned all forms of terrorism, including "cross-border terrorism." They called for zero tolerance towards terrorism and for concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the strong defense relations between Malaysia and India and emphasized the importance of regular exchanges, visits, staff talks, exercises, training courses, and defense industry cooperation. They welcomed the successful outcomes of the Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) and its sub-committees, including the terms of reference for the establishment of the Strategic Affairs Working Group (SAWG) and the Su-30 Forum.

The two leaders appreciated India's continued participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus framework and welcomed its co-chairmanship with Malaysia of the Counter-Terrorism Working Group for the period 2024-2027. The statement said that all ADMM-Plus members would be invited to participate in the upcoming Counter-Terrorism Expert Working Group Table-Top Exercise (EWG CT TTX), which will be co-chaired by India and Malaysia and hosted by Malaysia in 2026.

INDIA-MALAYSIA BILATERAL TRADE

Trade was a key topic of discussion between the two leaders. Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia amounted to approximately $19.5 billion in the 2024-2025 financial year. The two leaders discussed the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), a process that has been underway since 2020. Malaysia currently co-chairs this review mechanism.

India and Malaysia have agreed to promote bilateral trade and investment in their own currencies. To strengthen ties in the field of digital cooperation, both leaders agreed to formalize the Malaysia-India Digital Council (MIDC). They recognized it as a crucial platform for advancing digital collaboration, fostering innovation, and exploring joint projects in areas such as fintech, e-governance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and emerging technologies.

The AITIGA agreement signed between India and the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has seen trade grow multiple-fold between 2011 and 2026, although heavily in favour of the Southeast Asian nations. The trade deficit for India grew from around $7.5 billion annually in 2011 to about $44 billion in 2023.

Both leaders welcomed the ongoing review of AITIGA to make it mutually beneficial, trade-facilitating, and relevant to current global trade practices, and emphasized the importance of the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA) and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). The leaders also commended MICECA for its potential to deepen economic ties and encouraged its full utilization.

During the visit, the Prime Minister also interacted with leading business representatives, including executives from major Malaysian companies, to discuss investment plans and collaboration across key sectors. Malaysia is India’s third-largest trading partner within ASEAN, with bilateral trade close to twenty billion US dollars.

NEW INDIAN CONSULATE WILL BE OPENED

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a new Indian consulate will soon be opened in Malaysia, further strengthening ties between the two countries, while also lauding the Union government's "historic decision" to extend Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card eligibility to Malaysian citizens of Indian origin, last year, up to the sixth generation.

Prime Minister Modi's official visit to Malaysia comes at a time when Malaysia's external environment is undergoing profound structural changes. This visit is far more than just a formal exchange or a mere reaffirmation of goodwill. The two countries share a "special relationship," and both sides are committed to strengthening their ties across various sectors. This visit has undoubtedly yielded significant results that will further solidify India-Malaysia relations.