SERI KEMBANGAN, February 8 — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described Malaysia as a close and trusted partner, highlighting the Indian diaspora as a vital bridge strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
Speaking before more than 10,000 people at the ‘Selamat Datang Modi Ji’ event attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Modi said bilateral ties had reached new heights since being elevated in 2024, driven by strong people-to-people connections, shared cultural heritage and expanding strategic cooperation.
He praised Malaysia’s leadership within Asean, lauded Anwar’s reform agenda and announced initiatives to deepen engagement, including scholarships, youth exchanges, expanded OCI card eligibility and the establishment of a Thiruvalluvar Centre.
During the visit, Modi also revealed that India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the world’s largest real-time digital payments system, will be introduced in Malaysia, though details on implementation were not disclosed.
He said digital cooperation and economic ties were growing rapidly, noting that bilateral trade reached RM79.49 billion in 2025, with over 100 Indian IT companies operating in Malaysia and significant collaboration in healthcare and technology, underscoring a shared vision for inclusive growth, innovation and regional prosperity.
