India and Malta held the 4th Round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Valletta on 27 March 2026. The talks were co-chaired by Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Mr Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Malta.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the outcome on X, stating that the consultations “reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, with discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, ICT, healthcare, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, education, the maritime sector, and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides also discussed prospects for enhancing economic engagement in the context of the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Views were exchanged on regional and global issues of mutual interest, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to continued cooperation in multilateral fora.”
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the steady progress in India-Malta ties, noting the milestone of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025. They welcomed the recent upswing in high-level bilateral engagements.
High-Level Calls and Other Engagements
During the visit, Secretary (West) called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Dr Ian Borg, where they discussed avenues to strengthen ongoing cooperation and broaden the scope of bilateral engagement.
The Secretary (West) also paid a courtesy call on Brigadier Clinton J. O’Neill, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, where they “discussed India-Malta cooperation in the maritime and security sectors and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral defence ties.”
The secretary (West) visited Torrent Pharma Malta, a subsidiary of Torrent Pharma India, where he met General Manager Frederick Schembri and toured the facility. The visit included an interactive session with Indians working at the company.
A round table discussion on India-Malta economic relations was also held, attended by Malta’s Minister for European Funds and Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Dr Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, alongside Mr Cutajar, CEOs of companies, representatives of business chambers, and senior government officials from Malta. Companies including Aurobindo Global were among those represented.
Cultural Visits
On the sidelines of the FOC, Secretary (West) visited St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, a historic site known for its Baroque architecture and central place in Malta’s cultural heritage. He also visited Muza, the National Community Art Museum, and the Upper Barracca Gardens, accompanied by Mr Cutajar.
