Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Education (MOS RRS) paid an official visit to Malaysia from 30 November – 02 December 2023.
During the visit, MOS RRS called on H.E. V. Sivakumar, Minister of Human Resources, Malaysia. He also held bilateral meetings with H.E. Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, H.E. Dato’ Haji Mohammad Yusof bin Apdal, Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Malaysia and H.E. Senator Saraswathy Kandasami, Deputy Minister for Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives, Malaysia. These meetings furthered the understandings reached between External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Malaysia H.E. Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir during the 6th India-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting held recently in New Delhi.
On 01 December, MOS RRS together with H.E. Senator Saraswathy Kandasami, Deputy Minister for Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives, Malaysia and Shri Balvantsinh Rajput, Minister for Industries, Micro, Small and Medium Industries, Cottage, Khadi and Rural Industries and Civil Aviation, Government of Gujarat attended inauguration of the first ever Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International Business Summit & Expo.
MOS RRS and Minister Sivakumar also participated in the GOPIO International Business Excellence Awards ceremony on 02 December. The event recognised successful businesses led by members of Indian diaspora, from Malaysia and other countries. He also interacted with the office bearers of GOPIO Malaysia and GOPIO International and discussed issues of interest to PIOs.
MOS RRS attended ‘Bhakti – The Musical’, a cultural programme at the Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur. The event was organised by High Commission of India (HCI) in Kuala Lumpur as part of ‘Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) Scheme’ of Ministry of External Affairs & Indian Council for Cultural Relations. It highlighted the compositions of great saints of Bhakti movement in India.
MOS RRS inaugurated the Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) at the HCI. The Centre will cater to welfare-related activities for Indian workers. He also interacted with a group of Indian workers in Malaysia.
MOS RRS also visited the historic site of Selangor Padang where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave an inspirational speech to 60,000 people in September 1943. He felicitated Indian National Army (INA) veterans. He also visited the iconic Torana Gate in Kuala Lumpur, a symbol of enduring friendship between India and Malaysia.
The visit of MOS RRS has contributed to strengthening cooperation under the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership established during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Malaysia in 2015.