Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared that India has emerged as a “trusted partner for growth,” pointing to recent trade agreements with the United States, the United Kingdom, and what he termed the “mother of all deals” with the European Union. The prime minister made these remarks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he arrived earlier in the day for a two-day official visit.
Addressing a community programme, PM Modi stated that “Trust has become India’s strongest currency” and highlighted the trade deals India has concluded with several nations, news agency PTI reported. He emphasized that the Indian diaspora acts as a living bridge between India and Malaysia and announced the opening of a new consulate in the archipelago nation.
Malaysia is home to nearly three million people of Indian descent, making it the second largest Indian diaspora in the world. The majority among them trace their origins to Tamil Nadu.
#WATCH | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | People chant PM Modi's name after he mentioned India's recent trade deals with many countries, including the UK, EU, and the USA, while addressing the Indian diaspora at an event.
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2026
He says, "Trust has become India's strongest currency."
(Source:… https://t.co/ahDTXHGvhn pic.twitter.com/UIKiVuM8RU
During his address, PM Modi spoke of the musical talents of his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim and underscored his fondness for Tamil songs by legendary actor-politician M G Ramachandran (MGR).
PM describes Tamil as ‘India’s gift to the world’
Speaking about the Tamil language, the prime minister said, “Tamil is India’s gift to the world.” He described Tamil literature as eternal and global. He also referenced India’s Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Union ministers S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sritharaman to illustrate that Tamil people have “served humanity with their talents.”
Praising the contributions of the Tamil diaspora, PM Modi noted that, inspired by Tamil history, the Tiruvalluvar chair has been established at the University of Malaya. “We will now set up our Tiruvalluvar Centre to further strengthen our shared heritage,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.
This Malaysia visit represents the PM’s first foreign trip in 2026. PM Modi revealed he has been friends with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even before the latter assumed office. He also emphasized ‘IMPACT’ (India-Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation), calling it a guiding word for India’s relationship with Malaysia.
Also Read: How India Gains From Interim Trade Pact With US; 18% Tariff, Wider US Market Access
PM Modi arrived in Malaysia on Saturday and was accorded a warm welcome at the event, where more than 800 dancers performed Indian classical and folk dances. Subsequently, PM Modi and his counterpart travelled in the same car and arrived amid slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and chants of ‘Modi, Modi’.
Malaysian PM identifies India among top trading partners
Underlining the significance of India, the Malaysian PM stated that India is among the “top trading partners” of the country. “It is not only goods that move between us, but in 2025, over 1.5 million Indian visitors came to Malaysia,” Ibrahim added.
This marks the third visit of the prime minister to Malaysia, and the first following the elevation of the India-Malaysia bilateral relationship to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ in August 2024.
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