New Delhi | Feb 08, 2026 | External Affairs
India and Malaysia significantly deepened their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Malaysia from February 7–8, 2026, reaffirming a shared commitment to expanding cooperation across political, economic, security, technological, and people-centric domains.
The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reflected the deep civilizational ties, strong people-to-people connections, and democratic values that underpin India–Malaysia relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1957. The CSP, elevated in August 2024, was reaffirmed as the central framework guiding bilateral engagement.
High-Level Political Engagement and Institutional Dialogue
Prime Minister Modi was accorded an official welcome at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya, followed by comprehensive bilateral talks. Both leaders emphasized sustained high-level exchanges and institutional mechanisms such as the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and Joint Commission Meetings (JCM) as pillars of bilateral coordination.
The leaders also encouraged deeper parliamentary engagement, noting recent reciprocal visits between parliamentary delegations, including engagements under the Commonwealth Speakers’ Conference and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).
Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation
Recognizing Malaysia as a key economic partner in Southeast Asia, both leaders committed to enhancing trade facilitation and investment flows. Emphasis was placed on maximizing the potential of the Malaysia–India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA) and the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), with both sides welcoming the ongoing review of AITIGA to reflect contemporary global trade realities.
Priority sectors identified for expanded collaboration include infrastructure, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, healthcare, fintech, digital economy, artificial intelligence, startups, hospitality, and green technologies. India reiterated its position as a preferred investment destination for Malaysian companies, while Malaysia welcomed the contribution of Indian firms to high-skilled employment.
The tenth India–Malaysia CEO Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur, was acknowledged as a critical industry-led platform complementing government efforts.
Both sides also encouraged greater use of local currency settlement between the Indian Rupee and Malaysian Ringgit to facilitate bilateral trade and reduce transaction costs.
Food Security and Agricultural Cooperation
Food security emerged as a key area of cooperation. The leaders agreed to strengthen resilient and sustainable supply chains for staple commodities and deepen collaboration in palm oil cultivation and value-added downstream products. Malaysia reaffirmed its role as a reliable supplier of sustainable palm oil, while both sides agreed to structured engagement on market access issues.
Digital, Financial and Technology Partnerships
The formalization of the Malaysia–India Digital Council (MIDC) was welcomed as a flagship platform for cooperation in fintech, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, e-governance, and emerging technologies.
The collaboration between NPCI International Limited (NIPL) and PayNet Malaysia to establish cross-border digital payment linkages was highlighted as a major step toward enhancing ease of business, tourism, and remittances.
In critical technologies, both leaders underlined the strategic importance of semiconductors and welcomed ongoing institutional partnerships between Indian and Malaysian academic and industry bodies to strengthen supply chain resilience and workforce development.
Energy and Climate Cooperation
Energy cooperation featured prominently, with leaders noting the expanding footprint of Malaysian companies such as PETRONAS and Gentari in India’s renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors. Both sides agreed to explore large-scale solar energy projects and deepen cooperation aligned with net-zero ambitions, while Malaysia acknowledged India’s leadership through the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Defence, Maritime and Security Cooperation
The leaders expressed satisfaction with robust defence ties, marked by regular exchanges, joint exercises, training programs, and defence industry collaboration under the Malaysia–India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM).
They welcomed:
- The successful conduct of Exercise Harimau Shakti 2025
- Growing naval cooperation through deployments and exercises such as Samudra Laksamana, MILAN, and ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise
- The establishment of the Inaugural Malaysia–India Security Dialogue
India’s role in ASEAN defence mechanisms was reaffirmed, with both sides co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Counter-Terrorism Working Group (2024–2027).
Both leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and agreed to strengthen cooperation through information-sharing, countering terror financing, addressing radicalization, and coordinated action in multilateral forums including the UN and FATF.
Education, Skills and Human Capital Development
Education and skill development formed a strong pillar of cooperation. The leaders encouraged enhanced student and faculty exchanges under ITEC and MTCP programs, greater collaboration in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and participation in India’s “Study in India” initiative.
Key cultural milestones included:
- Operationalization of the Thiruvalluvar Chair and Centre at Universiti Malaya
- Announcement of Thiruvalluvar Scholarships for Malaysian nationals
Healthcare and Traditional Medicine
Both sides reaffirmed cooperation in affordable healthcare, drug regulation, nursing services, and traditional medicine. Malaysia committed to facilitating the deployment of Traditional Indian Medicine (TIM) experts under ITEC, enabling integrated healthcare models.
The leaders welcomed the MoU between India’s Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH) and the University of Cyberjaya, promoting research and academic exchanges.
Sustainable Development and Disaster Resilience
Shared priorities in biodiversity conservation and disaster management were underscored. Malaysia’s role as a founding member of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was acknowledged, alongside cooperation under the bilateral MoU on Disaster Management and engagement through global initiatives such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
Regional and Multilateral Cooperation
On global issues, the leaders emphasized peaceful dispute resolution, support for multilateralism, and reforms of international institutions including the UN Security Council. India appreciated Malaysia’s support for India’s permanent UNSC membership.
Malaysia welcomed India’s 2026 BRICS Chairmanship, while India reaffirmed support for Malaysia’s role as a BRICS Partner Country and its aspirations for full membership.
Both sides reiterated commitment to freedom of navigation, UNCLOS 1982, ASEAN centrality, and a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, aligning India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) with ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Key Agreements and Announcements
During the visit, multiple agreements, MoUs, Exchanges of Notes and Letters were concluded across areas including:
- Audio-visual co-production
- Disaster management
- Anti-corruption cooperation
- UN peacekeeping
- Semiconductors
- Health and medicine
- Security cooperation
- Social security for Indian workers
- Vocational education and training
- Ratification of the IBCA Framework Agreement
Major announcements included:
- Establishment of an Indian Consulate General in Malaysia
- Dedicated Thiruvalluvar Centre at Universiti Malaya
- Cross-border digital payments linkage between NIPL and PayNet
- New academic collaborations in Ayurveda and traditional medicine
Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for Malaysia’s warm hospitality and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to visit India. The visit marked a significant consolidation of India–Malaysia relations, positioning the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as a key anchor in India’s Act East policy and ASEAN engagement.
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