By Shakir Husain
NEW DELHI, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's diplomatic missions in India are exploring further steps to strengthen bilateral commercial links to achieve the annual trade target of US$25 billion by the end of 2026.
Malaysian High Commissioner to India, Datuk Muzafar Shah Mustafa, last week travelled to the southern metropolis of Chennai and chaired an inter-economic agency meeting.
Officials from Malaysia's Consulates General in Chennai and Mumbai participated in the meeting.
"We had a good exchange of ideas on how to build on our existing strong relations with India to achieve our bilateral trade target," Muzafar told Bernama on Wednesday.
"Malaysian companies should look at further expanding business links with different Indian regions and states," he said.
The value of Malaysia-India trade in 2023 was US$16.53 billion and the two countries aim to grow the annual figure to at least US$25 billion in the next two years.
The Chennai meeting reviewed the economic activities undertaken by the Malaysian entities and discussed coordinated efforts across sectors to grow their engagements in the country.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI), Tourism Malaysia, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), and Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) representatives also participated in the discussions.
The high commissioner called on Tamil Nadu governor R.N. Ravi on Dec 13 and exchanged views on strengthening Malaysia-India relations via Tamil Nadu with a focus on economic cooperation, trade, technology, education and tourism.
He also visited the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Siruseri campus to gain insights into the information technology giant's work and toured the facilities of Indian Oil Petronas Pvt Ltd (IPPL) at Ennore.
Muzafar was accompanied by the deputy high commissioner, Sharifah Ezneeda Wafa, and the minister for economic affairs at the diplomatic mission, Shamilah Perumal, on his first visit to Tamil Nadu since taking up his post in October 2023,
He interacted with various business groups in Chennai and Indian companies with interests in Malaysia.
Muzafar also engaged with members of the Malaysian diaspora, including students and professionals living in the south Indian state.
-- BERNAMA
