New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is seen globally as a "trusted partner for growth", reflected in recent trade agreements with the UK, the US and the EU.
Addressing a community event in Kuala Lumpur, Modi reiterated that India's economic trajectory and reform push have enhanced its credibility as a reliable partner.
He announced that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will soon be introduced in Malaysia, describing it as a significant step towards enabling seamless cross-border digital payments and boosting business, travel and remittance flows between the two countries.
Modi said India and Malaysia share deep cultural linkages, reflected in the linguistic similarities between Indian languages and Malay. He thanked the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur for serving as a bridge between the two nations, noting the contribution of the Tamil community in various sectors.
"India's success is Malaysia's success, and it is Asia's success," he said, adding that the guiding principle of bilateral ties is "IMPACT" - India-Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation.
Referring to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Modi said, "Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and I have been friends even before he became Prime Minister. I commend his focus on reforms, his great intellect and able Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025."
He also noted the popularity of Indian films and music in Malaysia, adding that Ibrahim's rendition of an old Hindi song during a previous visit had gone viral in India.
Defence cooperation is expected to be a key pillar of discussions during the visit. Indian officials indicated that New Delhi is exploring opportunities to supply Dornier aircraft and offer maintenance, repair and overhaul support for platforms such as Scorpene submarines and Su-30 fighter jets, signalling a shift towards deeper strategic engagement. Agreements to strengthen collaboration in the semiconductor sector are also expected.
Indian companies maintain a strong presence in Malaysia. India played a role in establishing Malaysia's first and Asia's largest insulin manufacturing facility, while over 100 Indian IT companies operate in the country. The Malaysia-India Digital Council is advancing bilateral digital collaboration.
Addressing a community event in Kuala Lumpur, Modi reiterated that India's economic trajectory and reform push have enhanced its credibility as a reliable partner.
He announced that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will soon be introduced in Malaysia, describing it as a significant step towards enabling seamless cross-border digital payments and boosting business, travel and remittance flows between the two countries.
Modi said India and Malaysia share deep cultural linkages, reflected in the linguistic similarities between Indian languages and Malay. He thanked the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur for serving as a bridge between the two nations, noting the contribution of the Tamil community in various sectors.
"India's success is Malaysia's success, and it is Asia's success," he said, adding that the guiding principle of bilateral ties is "IMPACT" - India-Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation.
Referring to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Modi said, "Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and I have been friends even before he became Prime Minister. I commend his focus on reforms, his great intellect and able Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025."
He also noted the popularity of Indian films and music in Malaysia, adding that Ibrahim's rendition of an old Hindi song during a previous visit had gone viral in India.
Defence cooperation is expected to be a key pillar of discussions during the visit. Indian officials indicated that New Delhi is exploring opportunities to supply Dornier aircraft and offer maintenance, repair and overhaul support for platforms such as Scorpene submarines and Su-30 fighter jets, signalling a shift towards deeper strategic engagement. Agreements to strengthen collaboration in the semiconductor sector are also expected.
Indian companies maintain a strong presence in Malaysia. India played a role in establishing Malaysia's first and Asia's largest insulin manufacturing facility, while over 100 Indian IT companies operate in the country. The Malaysia-India Digital Council is advancing bilateral digital collaboration.