Kuala Lumpur, Jan 18 (Inditop.com) Entrepreneurs from Malaysia are expected to sign more than 13 memorandums of understanding (MoU) during Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s five-day visit to India that begins Tuesday.
“The latest count is 13 and we are still counting,” Razak said here on the eve of the visit.
Most of the MoUs would be from the private sector that is engaged in a variety of projects in India.
Several bilateral discussions would be held on road construction, education, information and communication technology, oil and gas exploration, pharmaceuticals, tourism and green technologies.
Bilateral trade between the two countries had reached $10 billion and the premier hoped it would increase in the future.
Razak said his visit to India would be “substantive and not purely ceremonial”.
“I will also extend an invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come to Malaysia. It will enhance Malaysia’s political and economic ties with India,” he said.
Malaysia is appreciative of India’s look East Policy that has taken rapid strides under Singh who last year pushed through a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN).
Besides economic ties, Malaysia and India have defence cooperation.
Razak acknowledged that India had provided useful help for Sukhoi aircraft.
“But we have not bought anything major. Our personnel were sent to India for pilot training,” Bernama, the official news agency quoted him as saying.
On whether Malaysia would collaborate with India in nuclear technology for source of energy, Razak said: “We have not made any decision yet as nuclear energy will be the last option for the country.”
Razak will be accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor and a delegation that will include ministers, mentris besar (state chief ministers) as well as representatives of the business sector.
He will meet Manmohan Singh Wednesday and is scheduled to call on President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari.
Razak will also attend a roundtable meeting with selected Indian industrialists and launch a Malaysian property exhibition.
On a visit to Chennai, he will meet the Malaysian community, including businessmen and students.
