New Delhi: India and Malaysia on Friday signed key agreements to strengthen cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing and digital payments, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. The two leaders also jointly condemned terrorism in all its forms.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi said India was keen to take its partnership with Malaysia to a new level. He announced that India would open a new Consulate General in Malaysia and establish a ‘Thiruvalluvar Centre’ at a university in Kuala Lumpur to promote cultural and academic ties.
To deepen economic cooperation, India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Malaysia’s PayNet signed an agreement to enable seamless digital payments. The move is expected to make transactions easier and more affordable for tourists and small businesses in both countries. The two sides also agreed to encourage trade in local currencies — the Indian rupee and the Malaysian ringgit — instead of relying on the US dollar.
Semiconductors emerged as a major focus area, with Malaysia being a key global player in the sector. Officials said the agreement would open new opportunities for technological collaboration and strengthen supply chains.
The two leaders also discussed defence cooperation, including the potential sale of Indian-made Dornier aircraft and maintenance support for Malaysia’s Sukhoi-30 fighter jets.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to expanding cooperation across trade, technology, defence and people-to-people exchanges, while reaffirming a shared stance against extremism and terrorism.
