Today’s hyper-connected world offers opportunities for countries to pursue relations with each other as never before. This holds for Malta and India despite the distance that separates them. India was among the first countries to recognise Malta’s independence and establish diplomatic relations in 1965. This year Malta and India celebrate six decades of establishing diplomatic relations.
Located south of the Italian island of Sicily between Europe and North Africa, Malta gained independence from the British in 1964. It continues to be part of the Commonwealth as does India. In 2004 it became a member of the European Union and adopted the Euro in 2008.
Visits and Agreements
Malta and India share significant commonalities, such as being Commonwealth members today and sharing a history of non-aligned foreign policy. Neutrality is a defining pillar of Malta’s foreign policy. In 1956, just a year after the Bandung Conference which signalled the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement and in 1973 Malta officially joined the Non-Aligned Movement.
The Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, visited India, in 1989 as did Dr. Censu Tabone, President of Malta in January 1992 and Dr. Michael Frendo, Foreign Minister of Malta in March 2005. During these visits the two countries signed several bilateral MoUs/Agreements like the Cultural Cooperation Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations, and e-Tourist Visa on arrival.
It also has three Consular offices in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. India reopened its’ High Commission in Santa Venera in 2017 and the respective High Commissions are working on enhancing the long-established ties. Other visits followed from Malta; the Minister for Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change in 2015, three Ministerial visits in 2018, by the Minister for Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Finance and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion. In January 2019 the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr. Joseph Muscat accompanied by Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business of Malta, Dr. Christian Cardona. A large business delegation from Malta participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January 2024.
The Minister of Economy, European Funds and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade visited India in 2023. During the visit of India’s Vice President, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu to Malta in September 2018, the two countries signed three MoUs on maritime cooperation; tourism cooperation and cooperation between the Foreign Service Institute, India and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, University of Malta. Thereafter in August 2022, the then Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi visited Malta. Trade and investment, maritime cooperation, solar energy, tourism, films and culture were focus areas of discussion. As an EU member, Malta also engages with India through the EU format and is eager to promote India-EU relations. Malta welcomes the energised India-EU relations following the 15th Summit in 2020, the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting on 8 May 2021 and the relaunch of the FTA in 2022.
Areas of Cooperation
Economic cooperation focusing on trade and investment opportunities is the wherewithal of vibrant bilateral relations. Malta and India relations are no exception. India’s rising economic heft and Malta’s steady economic performance create good grounds for future relations. India’s economic ties with Malta have grown stronger with annual bilateral trade in 2022 pegged at €277 million. India’s main export items were pharmaceutical products, petroleum products, wheat, organic chemicals, and ceramic products. The main import items from Malta were organic and inorganic chemicals, integrated circuits, machinery, and sorted/recovered paper. The Maltese Beer Cisk (non-alcoholic version) is now available in India, launched in August 2022 by Simonds Farsons Cisk plc-Malta and A&Z Exports International-India. Around 112 Indian companies are currently operating in Malta in the Administrative, Entertainment and Recreation, Construction, Education, Financial, Health, ICT, Manufacturing, Consultancy, Real Estate, Wholesale and Retail Trade sectors. In 2009 Indian company, Aurobindo Pharma set up analytical pharma testing facilities in Malta, which is one of the largest, such facilities in Europe. Solar energy was identified as an area of future cooperation during the visit of the then Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi’s to Malta in 2022. In February this year, Malta became the 119th country to join the International Solar Alliance which was conceived as a joint effort by India and France in 2015 on the sidelines of the COP21 conference in Paris.
Additionally, the Foreign Office Consultations established between the two countries are useful in promoting relations. They have provided an opportunity for reviewing bilateral engagements and exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. The 3rd round of Consultations in 2023 held in the backdrop of major geopolitical shifts in Europe, focused on developments in the respective neighbourhoods, the EU, the Ukraine conflict, India’s G20 Presidency outcomes, cooperation in multilateral fora, and UNSC reforms. There were also discussions on trade and investments, migration, skill development, health and pharma sector and cultural linkages.
Malta is also a member of the India-Europe 29 Business Forum (IE29BF) created by the External Affairs Ministry, India, and the industry body; Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce (FICCI) in 2014 to provide an institutionalised platform for promoting business exchanges between India and the 29 countries of the Central Europe region. Malta has been regularly participating in the Forum. In 2018 Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta Camelo Abela participating in the fourth Forum meeting urged Indian industry to increase their investments in Malta and avail the benefit of easier access to the European and African markets. “Malta is open for business,” he said and went on to identify a bunch of sectors like pharma manufacturing, education, healthcare, consultancy, renewal energy, financial services, events, biotechnology research, and knowledge-based industries that would be particularly attractive for Indian investors. He also highlighted Malta as a global film production hub. This is another area where possibilities can also be explored in the future.
Culture is another important area of cooperation, as the Cultural Co-operation Agreement signed way back in 1992 clearly shows. The High Commission of Malta in India has been particularly interested in promoting knowledge of Maltese culture and lifestyle as a foundation for building a relationship of respect and understanding. In 2012 the High Commission participated in the European Film Festival with the feature film “Kont Diga” which was screened in various Indian cities. Through the efforts of the High Commission, three Maltese books were selected for translation into Hindi to be promoted and distributed amongst school children across India. In the Mood Indigo mega annual cultural event organized by the Mumbai Indian Institute for Technology, Maltese folk/ethnic ensemble, Trania was showcased.
The Indian High Commission similarly is active in Malta to promote India’s rich cultural heritage. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) gifted a statue of Mahatma Gandhi to Malta and in 2013 a large mural of Mahatma Gandhi came up on Fgura’s main road, a street that has been named after him. On the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019, the High Commission organised a Quiz on the ‘Life and Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi’ and a Commemorative postage stamp issued by Malta Post. The High Commission has also been regularly leading celebrations of the International Day of Yoga since 2015. This International Day of Yoga one may recall was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Modi in his UN address in 2014. Sanskrit grammar courses are also being taught at the University of Malta. Malta is now being chosen as a locale for Indian film shoots. In 2009 the Tamil movie Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya (Will You Come from the Sky?) was shot in Malta and was interestingly reported by Malta Independent as the “First Bollywood Film shot in Malta”. Subsequently Amitabh Bachchan starrer ‘Thugs of Hindostan’ and Salman Khan starrer ‘Bharat’ were shot in Malta in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
According to Malta census data, in 2021 there was significant presence of 7,000 Indian nationals living in Malta. Malta has a well-established and respected Indian business community that owns and runs many shops in the capital city Valletta. Falzon’s work based on archival research and oral history shows the historical connections of the Indian community in Malta.
Conclusion
The bilateral relations between Malta and India are cordial and have substantive potential. Steady economic development in both countries is opening up new areas of engagement as ICT, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and financial technologies, films and tourism are additional identified areas of cooperation. Both Malta and India also recognise the importance of promoting their culture to help strengthen relations and the successful Indian diaspora in Malta is an asset that can further our bilateral ties.
