Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is visiting New Delhi to discuss bilateral ties and to seek support for his country’s application to join BRICS, Malaysian media has reported.
Anwar, who will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, is expected to discuss Malaysia’s accession in the bloc, which was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, ahead of the leaders’ summit in Kazan this October, The Star newspaper reported, citing Malaysian High Commissioner to India Datuk Muzafar Shah Mustafa.
The informal group of states has been expanding rapidly. Last year, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were invited to join BRICS.
Fikry A. Rahman, the head of foreign affairs at Malaysian think tank Bait Al-Amanah, told Nikkei Asia that June’s application to join BRICS highlights Malaysia’s strategy to diversify its multipolarity “by involving more like-minded partners,” and that diversifying partnerships and aiming to “de-dollarize” trade ties with them is strategically beneficial for the country.
Modi and Anwar are also expected to discuss issues in the Indo-Pacific region, as Malaysia prepares to take over as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025.
Malaysia’s envoy in Delhi also noted that the two sides will sign seven agreements in sectors including digital, tourism, health, workforce, public administration, and traditional Ayurveda medicine. Last year, bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly $20 billion, according to Indian government data, making Malaysia India’s 13th largest trading partner. “This visit is also expected to open opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy and electric vehicles,” Mustafa said.
In a press release on Sunday, New Delhi stated that Anwar’s visit would pave the way for further strengthening of bilateral ties by “charting out a multi-sectoral cooperation agenda for the future.”
During his visit, which will last from Monday to Wednesday, he will also make a pitch for Indian investments to boost Malaysia’s digital and green energy sectors, the Times of India reported. The outlet said, citing sources, that the two sides are working towards a “substantive agreement” in the start-up sector.
The Modi-led government aims to increase the share of electric vehicles in total sales to around 30% by 2030. During the previous financial year, India sold 1.7 million EVs. Demand for the vehicles is booming, driven by government incentives, lower battery costs, and rising fuel prices, according to the Economic Times.
According to Mustafa, India also hopes to strengthen cooperation with Malaysia in the semiconductor industry. New Delhi has undertaken several initiatives to boost domestic chip production. In 2021, the government announced a $9 billion program for the development of the semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem.