Anwar visits Keralam to explore new areas of cooperation

Keralam is set to experience a surge in Malaysia's relations with South India following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's maiden visit as prime minister. K Saravana Kumar, the consul-general of Malaysia to South India, anticipates the trip to open up unexplored avenues of cooperation between the two nations in areas like wellness tourism, education, trade, and investment.

Malaysia can learn from Keralam's expertise in Ayurveda and the integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine, potentially boosting its wellness tourism sector. Tourism ties between the two countries, especially to Keralam and Tamil Nadu, hold significant potential for expansion.

The prime minister's visit, which starts today, includes meetings with the grand mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, at Jamia Markaz, where subjects of community development, educational advancement, and interfaith harmony will be discussed. Saravana Kumar also highlights Keralam's reputation for sustainable development, clean energy, and adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as areas of mutual interest for expertise sharing.

During the visit, Anwar is expected to engage in business interactions and meetings with influential Indian industry players and corporate figures in Calicut, also known as Kozhikode. Additionally, he will meet Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to discuss bilateral cooperation in sectors like trade, investment, tourism, healthcare, and education.