Malaysia hopes to give a political push to their negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement with India and to collaborate in areas of IT, biotech and pharmaceuticals during Premier Mohd Najib Tun Razak's upcoming visit to New Delhi beginning January 19.
Razak, accompanied by a 200 strong delegation, will make an official visit to India beginning January 19 to broaden and deepen the existing close bilateral cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today.
Malaysia is expected to sign at least 13 Memoranda of Understanding with India in various fields including Highway and infrastructure projects.
The visit would also provide an excellent opportunity for Najib and his host Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to exchange views and achieve closer understanding on issues of mutual interest, the statement said.
The premier has said that he wanted to see the Malaysia India FTA to go forward.
Admitting that it had been on the backburner for a while, the premier felt that it was the right time to reignite talks and finalise the treaty by the year end.
He said that the Indian economy was growing fast and that it would play an important role in international affairs.
Najib's delegation includes several ministers, deputy ministers, chief ministers, members of parliament and senior officials as well as representatives of the business sector and the media.
"Both sides are expecting that this will be a substantive visit," premier Najib said on Monday.
During his four day visit, Naib is also scheduled to call on President Pratibha Patil, and Vice President Hamid Ansari.
Najib hoped that India Malaysia trade, which is currently at $10 billion, will be enhanced in near future.
Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor will accompany him.
He will also visit Chennai to attend and deliver a keynote address at the 16th CII Global Partnership Summit 2010 entitled "Global Partnership: Meeting Challenges".
He will also attend a round table meeting with some Indian industrialists and launch a Malaysian property exhibition.
Najib had said recently that he would take up the issue of many Indians who failed to return from Malaysia after the expiry of their visas. There are 39,046 Indians, mostly from Tamil Nadu, who are now illegals in this country.
Besides IT, biotech and pharmaceuticals, Malaysia also hopes to collaborate with India in areas of green technology and heavy industries.