NEW DELHI: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's three-day trip to India succeeded in garnering some RM8 billion in potential trade.
This is besides commitments totalling RM4.5 billion in investments from sectors and companies in the South Asian nation.
The prime minister said this was the result of meetings held with main industry players in India, including in the palm oil and palm oil-based products, chemicals and chemical products, oil and gas and aviation parts industry.
"At the same time, seven business-to-business (B2B) memoranda of understanding were signed, alongside eight government-to-government MoUs during this official visit.
"Trade between Malaysia and India in 2023 hit RM72.31 billion, with 168 investment projects till March 2024 worth RM4.5 billion, creating 16,640 job opportunities.
"We were treated well by the Indian government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and I have extended an invitation to the president and prime minister of India to visit Malaysia so we can keep up the momentum of our bilateral relations," he said.
Anwar was speaking to reporters before leaving India.
Asked about Malaysia's application to join BRICS, the prime minister said Modi had expressed support in the matter.
"We are at the initial stages... cooperation between states. Direct participation will only be decided by their representatives in the meeting of the heads of member nations in Kazan, Russia, in a month or two," he said.
On the three-month timeline given for both Malaysian and Indian government officials to report on the progress of resolution of bilateral issues, Anwar said this was due to the seriousness of Modi and his government in tackling such matters.
"For instance, Prime Minister Modi, when discussing the issue of education, spontaneously offered 100 scholarships for Malaysians to study in India. Similarly, on the issue of visas, immediate decisions are needed based on current developments.
"So, within three months, a progress report on implementation and any arising issues must be provided. This way, we can be assured.
"What is important is, in working with India, it is a two-way relationship and these reports must bring about results that are directly beneficial to both countries.
"There are some who think three months is too short a time but I don't think so. If we want to drive fresh growth and if we want this country to benefit and the people to enjoy comfort, our actions must be quicker than before," he said.
Anwar added that he had also discussed the possibility of extending visa-free travel to Malaysia for Indian citizens if there was a good reception to the matter.
He said, besides China, India was the biggest contributor to Malaysia's tourism industry.
"Tourists from India have reached the 800,000 figure and we hope this number eill reach one million (in the near future)," he said.
During his trip, Anwar had also held a roundtable discussion with 31 companies and captains of industry from India, from various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and electronics.
His last order of business here was a meeting with Muslim leaders such as Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari from the Jama mosque and Maulana Mahmood A. Maddani fron the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind organisation. - BERNAMA