Prime Minister Narendra Modi He said on Saturday (February 7, 2026) that India is considered a “reliable partner for growth” and this is reflected in recent trade deals agreed with various countries including UK, USA and EU.
Addressing a community program in Kuala Lumpur, Modi said that the Indian diaspora is acting as a strong bridge between India and Malaysia.
Referring to the trade agreements India has agreed with various countries, the Prime Minister said India is considered a “reliable partner for growth”.
“Trust is India’s strongest currency,” Mr Modi said, referring to trade agreements with the UK, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, EU and the US.
Mr. Modi said that both India and Malaysia know each other very well and this must be due to the large number of common words between Indian languages and Malay.
“I am grateful for the love of the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur. Our diaspora continues to serve as a strong bridge between India and Malaysia,” he said.
How India and the US Reached a Trade Agreement: A Timeline
Modi said that his visit to Malaysia, his first foreign visit in 2026, gave me great pleasure.
He said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was present at the event, and Mr. Ibrahim were friends before they became Prime Ministers.
The Prime Minister said that members of the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia are serving the society in various fields.
Also Read |The US will remove an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods from February 7
“In fact, the Tamil diaspora has been here for centuries. Inspired by this history, we are proud to have established the Thiruvalluvar Chair at the University of Malaya. We now establish the Thiruvalluvar Center to further strengthen our shared heritage,” he said.
Mr. Modi said that Malaysia has the second largest community of Indian origin in the world and there is much that connects Indian and Malaysian hearts.
“Recently in my Mann Ki Baat radio talk I shared with 1.4 billion Indians how more than 500 schools in Malaysia teach children in Indian languages,” he said.
“India’s success is Malaysia’s success and it is Asia’s success,” he said.
“That is why I say the guiding word for our relationship is impact. Impact means collective transformation that will drive the India-Malaysia partnership forward,” he said.
Mr. Modi asked Indians and people of Indian origin to travel and experience India.
“You should also bring your Malay friends with you. Because people-to-people contact is the cornerstone of our friendship,” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Modi and his Malaysian counterpart received a lavish welcome at the ceremony.
More than 800 dancers performed a tapestry of Indian classical and folk dances including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Yakshagana, Lavani and ODC.
Also Read |End in sight: US tariffs on US-India trade deal
The dance performance was declared to have entered the Malaysian Book of Records for the highest number of artists in an Indian dance performance.
“I am personally excited to have a good friend from India join us in Malaysia,” Mr. Ibrahim told the gathering.
The Malaysian prime minister recalled the ancient ties between the two nations “long before embassies and trade agreements came into vogue”.
“India or India is one of Malaysia’s top trading partners. It’s not just goods moving between us, but 1.5 million Indian visitors to Malaysia in 2025,” said Mr Ibrahim.
“I am proud to be a personal friend of Modi ji and India,” said the Malaysian PM.
Mr Modi arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (February 7, 2026) to a grand red carpet welcome, receiving his Malaysian counterpart Mr Ibrahim at the airport, signaling a new momentum in bilateral ties.
“Deeply touched by the warm welcome extended by my friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the airport. I look forward to our conversations and further strengthening the bond of friendship between India and Malaysia,” Mr Modi said on social media.
