India-Malaysia Relations Poised For Strong Growth, Says Indian Envoy

By V.Sankara

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- India is emerging as the fastest-growing source of tourists to Malaysia, with arrivals surpassing the one million mark for the first time in 2024, said the Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy.

Reddy highlighted that approximately 400,000 Malaysians travelled to India last year, underscoring the robust people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The High Commissioner also noted Malaysia’s facilitation of visa-free entry for Indian nationals, further boosting people-to-people exchanges.

“With the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism in 2025 and Malaysia’s Year of Tourism in 2026, we anticipate significant growth in this sector, further strengthening the bond between our two countries,”  he said during a reception marking the 76th Republic Day of India at a hotel here on Monday.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo attended the reception as the guest of honour, along with various dignitaries, including members of the diplomatic corps.

The diplomat expressed confidence that relations between India and Malaysia, underpinned by India’s dynamic growth and Malaysia Madani, would continue to deepen.

Reddy reiterated India’s strong support for Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship this year, reflecting India’s commitment to ASEAN unity, centrality, and its outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

“Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has conveyed India’s full support to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship. This marks an important milestone in our partnership,” he said.

India-Malaysia relations have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership, further strengthened by the launch of the Malaysia-India Digital Council earlier this month, which is set to enhance digital collaboration between the two nations.

Reddy also highlighted the inaugural India-Malaysia Security Dialogue held this month, which he described as a key platform to advance bilateral security cooperation.

Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia reached US$20 billion in 2024, with both governments aiming to increase this figure to US$25 billion by 2026.

Additionally, over 200 Indian companies are operating in Malaysia, contributing to investments and creating quality jobs.

“The thriving tourism sector and enhanced connectivity are key drivers of our bilateral relations, paving the way for greater collaboration in the years to come,” said Reddy, while acknowledging the role of the Indian diaspora, with 2.7 million people of Indian origin living in Malaysia. 

-- BERNAMA