The Malaysia-India Digital Council (MIDC) has been formalised following a meeting between Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, and India’s Electronics and Information Technology Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw during the just-concluded 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) in Bhubaneswar, India.
The MIDC is set to drive digital trade, technology exchange, and talent mobility between both nations.
Gobind said the pivotal initiative represents a significant leap forward in bilateral ties between Malaysia and India, strengthening cultural ties while further unlocking the full potential of digital innovation and economic opportunities of both nations.
“Through MIDC, we aim to foster an ecosystem that supports shared growth, talent development, and technological advancements for both Malaysia and India,” said Gobind.
MIDC will see Malaysia and India work on, among others:
- sharing of experiences and exchange of technical expertise;
- policy and regulatory approaches related to digital technologies;
- exploring business-to-business partnerships between industry associations;
- enhancing collaborations between start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises; and
- upskilling and reskilling talents in emerging digital technologies.
The Council also seeks to enhance cooperation between Malaysia and India’s Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on cyber security; and to collaborate, and explore opportunities in 5G technology.
The MIDC’s inaugural meeting, expected to be held in the first half of this year, will lay the groundwork for programmes and initiatives – reinforcing commitments made under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s State Visit to India from August 19-21, 2024.
While in India, Gobind also met India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, and representatives from Digital India Foundation, and Open Network for Digital Commerce.
“This was an enlightening work trip and looking ahead, we will work to strengthen the cooperation between both our countries, particularly in the digital sphere. This trip has further strengthened our relationship, and laid a solid foundation for future collaborations that will drive innovation and economic prosperity for both Malaysia and India,” he added.
The 18th PBD was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday. The event recognises the contributions of the overseas Indian community to India’s development. This year’s event saw the participation of Indian diaspora members from over 50 nations.
