Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s three-day visit to India, beginning on August 19th, is poised to strengthen the already robust relationship between the two nations. This visit, Ibrahim’s first as prime minister, will see him engage in high-level discussions with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday.
The visit promises to be a significant milestone in deepening India-Malaysia cooperation across various sectors. A key focus will be on trade, with both countries seeking to enhance existing agreements and explore new avenues for collaboration. India and Malaysia are currently in the process of establishing a framework for trade in their national currencies and reviewing their 12-year-old Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement to encompass new areas.
The visit will also address concerns regarding illegal immigration and human trafficking from India to Malaysia. A pact on the recruitment of Indian workers is expected to be signed, a move that aims to streamline the process and combat these issues.
Beyond trade, the visit will explore further collaboration in the defense sector. India and Malaysia have already established a strong defense partnership, highlighted by the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed in 1993, which was subsequently amended last year to facilitate expanded cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The visit is a testament to the deep historical and socio-cultural ties between India and Malaysia, a relationship elevated to ‘Enhanced Strategic Partnership’ status in 2015. As both countries enter the second decade of this enhanced partnership, Ibrahim’s visit is expected to set the stage for future collaboration and cooperation on a wide range of fronts.
The visit will also involve ceremonial events, including a ceremonial welcome at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, a visit to the Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, and a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Modi for his Malaysian counterpart. Ibrahim is also scheduled to meet with President Droupadi Murmu during his stay in India.
