The special aircraft carrying Anwar touched down at the air force station in Palam, New Delhi, at 9.47pm local time (12.17am in Malaysia).

Accompanying Anwar are foreign minister Mohamad Hasan, investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing, digital minister Gobind Singh Deo and human resources minister Steven Sim.

On hand to welcome Anwar were Indian minister of state for railways V Somanna, Malaysian high commissioner to India Muzafar Shah Mustafa and Indian high commissioner to Malaysia BN Reddy.

Anwar, who is on his first official visit to India after assuming office in November 2022, will meet prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

This meeting will provide an opportunity for both leaders to review current cooperation and explore initiatives to further strengthen Malaysia-India relations, which were elevated to an enhanced strategic partnership in 2015. They will also discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Anwar and his delegation will also take part in a roundtable meeting with Indian industry leaders.

In 2023, the total trade between the two countries amounted to RM76.62 billion, with Malaysia enjoying a surplus of RM15.89 billion.

India was Malaysia’s largest importer of palm oil and palm oil-based products, importing RM11.31 billion.

Malaysia’s major imports from India included petroleum products (RM6.62 billion) and agricultural products, including halal meat (RM5.79 billion).

In 2023, Malaysia was India’s third-largest trading partner among Asean member states.

As both countries enter the second decade of their enhanced strategic partnership next year, Anwar’s visit is expected to pave the way for further strengthening of bilateral ties by charting out a multi-sectoral cooperation agenda for the future.