India Malaysia elevate ties to CSP level during Anwar Ibrahim visit

In a sign of deepening ties between India and Malaysia, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim's visit to India. 

The Malaysian Prime Minister was on a three-day visit to India from 19-21 August 2024.

This was the first visit to India by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim. 

He led a high-level delegation which included Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan; Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Art & Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; Malaysian Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo and Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim.

Main Highlights of Anwar bin Ibrahim's visit to India

The Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Indian President Draoupadi Murum and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 August 2024 in New Delhi. During the meeting with Prime Minister Modi, both countries agreed to elevate their partnership from an Enhanced Strategic Partnership established in 2015  to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 

The elevation of bilateral ties to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signifies the deepening and maturing of the relationship between the two countries.

MoU/Agreement  between India and Malaysia 

During Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit, nine Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)/agreements were signed between India and Malaysia to boost their relationship.

• On Recruitment, Employment and Repatriation of workers,
• Cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine and Ayurveda,
• Cooperation in the field of Digital Technologies,
• Cooperation in the field of Arts, Culture and Heritage,
• Cooperation in the field of Tourism,
• Cooperation in Youth and Sports,
• Cooperation in Public Administration and Governance Reforms,
• MoU between the International Financial Centre Services Authority (IFSCA) and Malaysian  Labuan Financial Services Authority.
• Report of the 9th India- Malaysia CEO Forum.

India to Export 200,000 MT of White Rice to Malaysia

• During the Malaysian Prime Minister's visit, India agreed to export 200,000 MT of white rice to Malaysia.
• India, the largest exporter of rice in the world, banned the export of white rice in July 2023 to control the price in the domestic market. 
• However, it exports white rice at request from friendly countries.

100 additional ITEC slots for Malaysian nationals

• The government of India launched the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme in 1964 to provide technical training to officials in the Government, Private and Public Sectors, Universities, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry of foreign countries. 
• This programme trains people from around 158 Asian and Pacific countries, East Europe, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
• India has agreed to train an extra 100 Malaysian personnel under the ITEC programme.

Malaysia to Join International Big Cat Alliance 

• Malaysia has agreed to join the International Big Cat Alliance as a founding member.
• The International Big Cat Alliance is an Indian initiative which was approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 February 2024. 
• The International Big Cat Alliance, with its headquarters in India, will be an international collaboration working for the conservation of big cats and their habitats.
• The seven big cats are Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Jaguar, Puma and the Cheetah. 
• In India, five big cats—lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Cheetah—are found.

Other Important Agreements between India and Malaysia 

• Indian-sponsored Ayurveda Chair will be established at University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia
• Indian sponsored Thiruvalluvar Chair of Indian Studies to be set up at the Malaya University, Malaysia
• India-Malaysia Startup Alliance to promote Start-up Ecosystems in both countries,
• India- Malaysia Digital Council

Capital of Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur 

Currency of Malaysia: Ringgit