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In a significant development for educational cooperation between India and Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed plans to establish an IIT campus in Malaysia during the 17th Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The announcement, made on July 7, 2025, marks a new chapter in the two countries' relationship, as no IIT campus has been reported in Malaysia before this year. The initiative is expected to boost higher education opportunities and research collaboration between India and Malaysia, bringing the excellence and brand of IITs—India’s premier engineering institutions with a global reputation—closer to Malaysian students and researchers.
During the meeting, both leaders emphasized the importance of ensuring regional peace and stability. They also expressed support for just and peaceful resolutions to international issues such as Palestine and Jammu-Kashmir. Anwar welcomed Indian companies' interest in investing in future-oriented sectors in Malaysia, such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and the aerospace industry.
The proposed IIT campus in Malaysia is part of a strategic collaboration that could be connected to advances in technology sectors, such as artificial intelligence and digital economy. The exact location, the IIT branch involved, and the timeline for the campus's operational start have yet to be announced.
Anwar was accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz during the meeting. India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar was also present. The discussion also touched upon trade and investment opportunities, with Malaysia being India's third-largest trading partner in ASEAN, with total trade valued at US$20.02 billion (RM84.5 billion) in 2023-2024.
Malaysia officially became a Brics Partner Country on January 1 this year, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invited Anwar to attend the Brics summit. Anwar expressed a commitment to continuing to strengthen people-to-people relations through cooperation in areas like culture, tourism, and education, including the IIT campus proposal.
As the project progresses beyond the initial diplomatic discussion, further updates and details on the specific IIT involved or campus features are likely to be announced. This promising development in the regional education landscape is set to foster cross-border knowledge exchange and technological growth.
- The discussions between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Narendra Modi identified the potential for the IIT campus in Malaysia to intersect with advances in tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and digital economy.
- In the meeting, the Malaysian Prime Minister expressed his support for Indian companies' investment in future-oriented sectors like the digital economy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and aerospace industry.
- As Malaysia becomes a Brics Partner Country, Anwar emphasized the importance of furthering people-to-people relations through cooperation in areas like culture, tourism, and education, which includes the IIT campus proposal.
- The establishment of the IIT campus in Malaysia, set to foster cross-border knowledge exchange and technological growth, is expected to align with the general-news topic of international collaborations in the education and tech sectors.
- The proposed IIT campus in Malaysia can contribute to the reduction of crime-and-justice issues by fostering a more educated and knowledgeable society, which could potentially lead to increased socio-economic opportunities.
