India, Malaysia Reaffirm Commitment to Deepen Trade and Strategic Cooperation

India and Malaysia on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and expanding cooperation across key sectors, including semiconductors, defence and technology. The renewed push came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Malaysia, his first since both countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in August 2024.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the partnership spans a wide range of areas such as trade and investment, food security, defence, healthcare and tourism. Emphasising swift implementation, Anwar said both governments were committed to advancing cooperation in a timely manner. Following talks in Putrajaya, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of 11 agreements covering areas including semiconductors, disaster management and peacekeeping.

The two sides also agreed to continue promoting local-currency settlement mechanisms for cross-border transactions and expressed optimism that bilateral trade would exceed last year’s $18.6 billion. Anwar added that Malaysia would support India’s proposal to open a consulate in Sabah state on Borneo island, further strengthening diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries.

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