KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is rapidly accelerating its digital ambitions through strategic partnerships with India, positioning itself as a critical gateway for the Southeast Asian tech landscape.
Speaking at the Malaysia-India Business Council (MIBC) CEO forum at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre this afternoon, Malaysia's Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced that the nation is currently "ahead of pace" in its mission to cultivate a world-class digital workforce.
Central to this progress is the Digital Apprenticeship Talent Academy (DATA), which aims to train 5,000 Malaysians within Indian tech firms by 2026.
Gobind revealed that 4,608 individuals have already been trained and hired in high-value sectors such as Generative AI and cybersecurity, suggesting the target will be met well ahead of schedule.
This talent development is being further bolstered by the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, which is set to see over 50 Malaysian IT officers undergo specialised training in India in early 2026, focusing on frontier technologies like Quantum Computing and Data Analytics.
The partnership is also moving into the realm of high-level research and academic excellence.
On Jan 21, the Aisling Group Malaysia partnered with the prestigious IIT Madras to establish Centres of Excellence and research hubs within Malaysia. This collaboration is designed to provide Malaysian youth with access to globally recognised certifications while strengthening the nation’s overall innovation ecosystem.
Addressing an audience of business leaders, Gobind emphasised that the relationship is built on synergy rather than rivalry. He noted that while India offers unparalleled scale, Malaysia provides a stable, common-law legal framework and a burgeoning hub for AI compute and data centres.
He described Malaysia as a "neutral" and "trusted" base for Indian firms looking to serve a global clientele and navigate the 680 million consumers within the Southeast Asian market.
The economic data underscores the strength of this bilateral appetite. Gobind revealed that between 2021 and 2026, 80 Indian companies established a presence under the Malaysia Digital (MD) status, bringing RM 3.1 billion in approved investments and creating more than 4,200 high-value jobs.
The momentum shows no signs of slowing, with 111 companies currently in the pipeline representing a potential RM 1.89 billion in upcoming investments.
Ultimately, the government aims to transform Malaysia into a regional leader in digital content and a producer for the global market. The focus is now shifting toward weaving artificial intelligence (AI) and big data into the fabric of the manufacturing and services sectors.
"To the CEOs and investors here today; Do not just watch Malaysia’s digital transformation, drive it. Use Malaysia as your living lab. Pilot your AI solutions here, co-build with our local startups and scale those solutions across the 700 million people of ASEAN," said Gobind.
"I want to stress that the Malaysia–India Digital Council (MIDC) is far more than a diplomatic forum. It is a strategic engine designed to bridge our two nations' digital ambitions. By deepening our institutional linkages and focusing on high-priority domains, the MIDC will serve as the primary mechanism to deliver tangible, real-world outcomes for our innovators and industries.
"As we move from structured engagement to targeted implementation, I am confident that this partnership will not only accelerate our national digital transformation and economic growth but also serve as a cornerstone for regional digital resilience. Together, we are not just witnessing the future of the digital economy — we are actively building it," he added.
