From the 19th to the 20th of September, an eight-member Malaysian team led by Mr. Mohd Yani Bin Daud, Deputy Secretary General (Policy), visited Mumbai. As part of the 12th India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM), the group visited India.
Mr. Mohd Yani Bin Daud met with Vice Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, in Mumbai, and discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest centred on enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries, with a particular emphasis on Navy-to-Navy cooperation.
Mr. Mohd Yani Bin Daud met with Rear Admiral DK Goswami, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, and toured the Heritage Museum, which showcased the rich maritime heritage of the Indian shipbuilding sector. INS Khanderi, a Kalvari Class conventional attack submarine, was also visited.
On September 23, the team also visited Mazgaon Docks Limited and was given a tour of the defence shipyard's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities, including a visit to the under-construction stealth-guided missile frigate Nilgiri. Senior shipyard officials commissioned the trip to offer an overview of the shipbuilding process and many related needs.
Malaysia has the world's second-biggest Indian diaspora (2.75 million people), and India and Malaysia have formed close political, economic, and socio-cultural ties. The India-Malaysia relationship was elevated to Enhanced Strategic Partnership during the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi in 2015, and 2023 marks the 66th year of bilateral ties between the two nations.