MoS Muraleedharan to visit Negara Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia

Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has scheduled an official visit to two Southeast Asian nations. From May 30 to May 31, 2023, he will be visiting Negara Brunei Darussalam, followed by Malaysia from June 1 to 2, 2023.

According to information released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday (May 29, 2023), during his visit to Brunei, MoS Muraleedharan will actively engage with the Indian diaspora residing in the country. It is estimated thay over 14,000 Indians have made Brunei their home. As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations, he will have the pleasure of witnessing cultural performances organized by Indian associations in Brunei.

This visit holds significance as it marks MoS Muraleedharan's maiden trip to Brunei and serves as the first ministerial visit from India to the country since October 2019.

In Malaysia, MoS Muraleedharan will conduct a bilateral meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin. Furthermore, he will also have the opportunity to meet with the Malaysia's Minister of Human Resources V Sivakumar.

While there, MoS will also be actively involved in the inauguration of the inaugural Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Day in Malaysia (Aprawasi Diwas) and will launch of the PIO International Festival, scheduled from June 2 to 4, 2023.

He will address the Indian community and diaspora at the ‘Pravasiya Bharatiya Utsav’. With 2.75 million PIOs, Malaysia is home to the second largest PIO population in the world, the MEA said.

Additionally, MoS Muraleedharan will deliver the keynote address at an international conference titled 'India-ASEAN Dynamics in the Developing Indo-Pacific Order: Paths to Partnership Beyond the Third Decade'. The conference is being jointly organized by the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur, the Centre for ASEAN Regionalism at the University of Malaya (CARUM), and the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI).

MoS Muraleedharan will also interact with leaders of Indian community associations and leading business associations of India and Malaysia.

This visit holds particular significance as it marks the first ministerial visit to Malaysia since the formation of the new government in November 2022.