We want to move beyond elections, face of India's 'cockroach' movement tells BBC

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi. Malaysian economist Kim Leng has urged the government to act quickly to leverage India's economic growth and enable Malaysian companies to gain a stronger presence in the Indian market. If Malaysia increases its efforts, India could become one of its top five export markets within the next five to ten years.

Bilateral trade between Malaysia and India reached $18.6 billion in 2023, making India Malaysia's 10th largest trading partner. Malaysian exports to India amounted to $52.3 billion in 2023, up slightly from the previous year. India's economy grew by 7.6% in the 2025-26 financial year, making it the fastest-growing major economy, and its population of about 1.5 billion provides access to a vast consumer market.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to meet Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Malaysia and India have been deepening their economic ties since upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024. The success of Anwar's visit should be measured by whether Malaysian companies secure and deliver contracts in India and whether proposed initiatives move forward, such as plans for closer semiconductor cooperation and a Malaysia-India digital council.

Experts suggest that Malaysian SMEs and mid-cap firms should focus on integrating into India's expanding supply chains as specialized component suppliers, service providers, and technology partners.