PM Modi’s Ethiopia and Malaysia meetings open new avenues for defence, investment and technology ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meetings with the leaders of Ethiopia and Malaysia on Saturday have given India’s engagement with the two countries a fresh strategic and economic push, with discussions spanning defence cooperation, procurement, investment, mining and semiconductors, according to Government of India sources.
The meetings highlighted New Delhi’s efforts to expand its partnerships with countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, with both Ethiopia and Malaysia expressing interest in taking their defence cooperation with India to a higher level.
Defence cooperation was a key focus in both engagements, with discussions covering joint personnel training as well as the possibility of defence procurement from India. The interest comes as India increasingly seeks to expand its defence exports and strengthen military partnerships with friendly countries through training, capacity building and equipment supplies.
The two countries also conveyed their willingness to encourage greater participation by Indian companies and investors in their respective economies. The discussions are expected to open up additional opportunities for Indian industry as New Delhi looks to deepen economic partnerships alongside its growing strategic engagement.
Ethiopia keen on Indian mining companies
In the meeting with Ethiopia, the African country specially welcomed Indian mining companies, signalling scope for increased Indian participation in Ethiopia’s mining and mineral sectors.
The focus on mining comes against the backdrop of India’s growing interest in securing reliable access to critical minerals and strengthening commercial engagement with resource-rich African economies. Greater participation by Indian companies could also help expand bilateral economic ties beyond traditional areas of cooperation.
More from BusinessDefence emerged as another important area in the India-Ethiopia discussions, with Ethiopia showing keenness for stronger cooperation with India, including joint personnel training and defence procurement.
Semiconductor opportunities with Malaysia
The engagement with Malaysia, meanwhile, placed particular emphasis on semiconductor opportunities, reflecting the growing importance of the sector in India-Malaysia economic relations.
India has been seeking to build partnerships across the global semiconductor supply chain, while Malaysia has emerged as an important player in areas such as semiconductor assembly, testing and packaging. Discussions on opportunities in this sector could therefore create avenues for greater cooperation between Indian and Malaysian companies.
Malaysia also expressed interest in strengthening defence cooperation with India, including personnel training and defence procurement, according to government sources.
The discussions with both countries reflect the widening scope of India’s bilateral engagement, moving beyond traditional diplomatic and trade ties towards defence manufacturing, strategic minerals, technology and industrial investment.
For New Delhi, the twin engagements also reinforce its broader effort to build stronger partnerships with emerging economies while creating new opportunities for Indian businesses and strengthening cooperation in strategically important sectors.
