India–Malaysia Eye Stronger Ties in Technology, Tourism and Trade

Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai; Dr. Vijay Kalantri, President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) and Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai; Ms. Najwa Musyrifah Ramli, Consul General of Malaysia in Mumbai; and Ms. Priya Pansare, Senior Director – Trade, Investment and International Relations, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai, during meeting with the Consulate General of Malaysia.

"From Hospitality to Semiconductors, Fintech and Global South Collaboration; Meeting with the Counsel General of Malaysia in Mumbai explores avenues of partnership"

“Malaysia offers Indian businesses a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia, supported by its well-developed infrastructure, established manufacturing ecosystem and connectivity with regional and global markets. We see considerable scope for Indian companies to explore Malaysia as a destination for investment, regional expansion and industrial collaboration. At the same time, Malaysia is keen to deepen its engagement with Maharashtra, particularly by encouraging greater business exchanges, tourism flows and exploring potential sectors which can power our bilateral trade in the coming years,” said Ms. Najwa Musyrifah Ramli, Consul General of Malaysia in Mumbai, during her meeting with Dr. Vijay Kalantri, President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI)  and Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai at MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai.

Ms. Ramli further added, “India is one of the world’s largest consumers and importers of vegetable oils, presenting significant opportunities for Malaysian palm oil exporters. However, stringent certification requirements and regulatory procedures pose challenges to expanding Malaysia’s share in the Indian market. There is a need to streamline these processes and establish mechanisms that facilitate smoother market access, reduce trade barriers and promote greater bilateral trade in agricultural commodities.

“India and Malaysia share longstanding economic and cultural ties, with significant opportunities to further strengthen bilateral trade, investment and industry partnerships. Emerging sectors such as semiconductors, electronics and financial technology, alongside hospitality, tourism and agriculture, offer considerable potential for deeper cooperation. Greater engagement between businesses of both countries can help translate these opportunities into meaningful partnerships,” said Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI), during a meeting with Ms. Najwa Musyrifah Ramli, Consul General of Malaysia in Mumbai, at MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai.

Dr. Kalantri also highlighted the amicable relation of India and Malaysia with the Gulf countries and proposed that both the countries should play a meaningful role in resolving the crisis in West Asia. “Malaysia is home to a vibrant and well-established Indian diaspora, which serves as a strong bridge between the two countries, fostering closer economic, cultural and business ties. Malaysia’s expertise in infrastructure development also presents significant opportunities for collaboration, complementing India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure sector and creating new avenues for investment, technology exchange and joint ventures.”

Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai emphasised the importance of leveraging the India–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the ASEAN–India trade framework to strengthen commercial ties, diversify bilateral trade and facilitate greater participation by MSMEs in international markets.

Ms. Priya Pansare, Senior Director, Trade, Investment and International Relations, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai expressed her commitment to facilitating business delegations, sector-focused interactions and networking opportunities to further strengthen trade, investment and economic cooperation between the countries through MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of sustained engagement between diplomatic missions, trade promotion institutions and industry stakeholders in identifying new business opportunities.