- Malaysia strengthens India ties with RM4.5 billion in advancing investments.
- Indian manufacturing projects spur jobs and support Malaysia’s high-value sectors.
- Malaysia–IIT Madras partnership enhances tech capabilities and innovation efforts.
Malaysia has achieved significant progress in strengthening investment and trade ties with India, with projects valued in billions of ringgit currently at different stages of execution after the Prime Minister’s trip to India in 2024.
In reply to a parliamentary query, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong emphasized that the visit sparked interest among Indian investors in high-tech industries, value-added manufacturing, and advanced services.
“Following a series of high-level meetings and business-matching sessions, investments valued at RM4.5 billion are currently under discussion or being executed,” he said. Two out of three major projects have been approved, targeting the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors.
Historical information from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) indicates that between 1980 and September 2025, Indian involvement in manufacturing ventures in Malaysia amounted to RM4.88 billion over 176 projects, which included pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemicals, metal fabrication, oleochemicals, and machinery and equipment.
These investments have created over 16,000 new jobs for the people of Malaysia. In 2024, MIDA specifically approved ten projects with Indian investments worth RM298.45 million, focusing on key sectors like petrochemicals, chemicals, and machinery in accordance with the National Investment and Manufacturing Policy (NIMP 2030). During the initial nine months of 2025, five more projects totaling RM23.85 million were authorized, expected to generate more than 270 new job openings.
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At the same time, the Advanced Semiconductor Academy Malaysia (ASEM) has established a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras Global) to undertake high-impact projects that will strengthen Malaysia’s role in the global technology landscape.
These advancements highlight the expanding economic collaboration between Malaysia and India, yielding concrete advantages for high-value industries, employment growth, and technological progress, enhancing Malaysia’s goal to become a competitive center for innovation and manufacturing within the region.