PM Modi and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim at Indian Community Event in Kuala Lumpur

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

• 🤝 Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and Indian PM Modi attended a grand Indian community event in Kuala Lumpur, highlighting deep cultural and diplomatic ties.
• 🚀 The relationship between Malaysia and India has gained renewed momentum in recent years, encompassing economic cooperation, digital engagement, and people-to-people movement.
• 📈 In 2024, during PM Anwar Ibrahim's visit to New Delhi, ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• 💡 The guiding principle for the relationship is IMPACT (India Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation), aiming for collective transformation and mutual benefit.

Historical & Cultural Connections

• 📜 The two nations share a deep and enduring connection dating back 2,000 years, with historical maritime trade and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean.
• 🌉 The Indian-origin community in Malaysia is seen as a "living bridge" that beautifully links the two countries through shared food, language, and cultural traditions like Diwali and Thaipusam.
• 📚 Over 500 schools in Malaysia teach children in Indian languages, and the influence of figures like Thiruvalluvar and Swami Vivekananda is strongly felt.
• 🏛️ The Indian Cultural Center in Malaysia was renamed after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, honoring the sacrifices of ancestors who joined his Indian National Army.
• 🎓 A Thiruvalluvar Chair has been established at the University of Malaya, with plans for a new Thiruvalluvar Center to strengthen shared heritage.

Economic & Digital Cooperation

• 📊 Bilateral trade is projected to reach nearly $19 billion in 2025, with Malaysia being one of India's leading trading partners in ASEAN.
• 🏭 Indian companies have contributed significantly, including creating Malaysia's first and Asia's largest insulin manufacturing facility and over 100 IT companies generating thousands of jobs.
• 📱 The Malaysia-India Digital Council is paving new pathways for digital collaboration, with India's UPI (Unified Payments Interface) soon coming to Malaysia for simplified cross-border payments.
• 💡 Future cooperation focuses on high-technology manufacturing, including semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, digital finance, AI, and cybersecurity.

India's Growth and Global Role

• 🚀 India has undergone a massive transformation in one decade, moving from the 11th largest economy to knocking on the doors of the top three, and is the world's fastest-growing major economy.
• 📱 The "Make in India" initiative has made India the world's second-largest mobile manufacturer, with defense exports increasing nearly 30 times since 2014.
• 🌐 India is now the third-largest startup hub globally, boasting the world's largest digital public infrastructure and fintech ecosystem, with nearly half of global real-time digital transactions via UPI.
• 🌱 Growth is clean and green, exemplified by a 40-fold increase in solar energy capacity over a decade, positioning India as a trusted partner for investment and trade globally.

Support for Indian Diaspora

• 🌍 Malaysia hosts the second-largest Indian-origin community in the world, recognized for its integral role in building the Malaysian economy and society.
• 🛂 A historic decision was made to extend OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card eligibility to Malaysian citizens of Indian origin up to the sixth generation.
• 🎓 New initiatives include the Thiruvalluvar Scholarship for Malaysian students to study in India and continued support for the Indian Scholarship Trust Fund.
• 🏛️ A new Consulate of India will soon open in Malaysia, aiming to bring the two nations even closer and strengthen people-to-people connections.