During his official visit to Malaysia on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that "trust has become India's strongest currency," highlighting the nation's expanding network of trade agreements with major global partners. Addressing the Indian community in Kuala Lumpur, Modi showcased India's rapid economic and infrastructural transformation, emphasizing the strong people-to-people bonds that underpin India-Malaysia relations.

Modi emphasized that India is now viewed as a "trusted partner for growth," a sentiment reflected in recent trade deals with countries including the UK, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, the EU, and the US. He noted India's unprecedented growth in infrastructure and connectivity over the past decade, positioning it as the world's fastest-growing major economy. He also highlighted India's rise as the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer and the third-largest startup hub globally.

The Prime Minister underscored the significance of the Indian diaspora as a "living bridge" between India and Malaysia, noting that Malaysia is home to nearly three million people of Indian descent, making it the second-largest Indian diaspora in the world. He also announced the opening of a new consulate in Malaysia.

PM Modi lauded the contribution of the Tamil diaspora and described Tamil as "India's gift to the world". He referenced India's Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Union ministers S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman to illustrate how Tamil people have "served humanity with their talents".

Furthermore, Modi pointed to the rising defense exports, which have grown nearly 30% since 2014, and the expanding global confidence in India's economic trajectory. He also mentioned that India's digital payments platform, UPI, will soon be operational in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister's visit to Malaysia, his first foreign trip in 2026, seeks to broaden cooperation across defense, trade, innovation, and emerging technologies. He expressed being deeply touched by the warm welcome extended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, adding that he looked forward to strengthening bilateral bonds.