India, Malta review ties at foreign office talks in Valletta; push cooperation in trade, maritime, and technology
New Delhi, March 29. India and Malta held the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations in Valletta on March 27 reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues for cooperation in trade, technology, maritime affairs, and education.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on March 29, the talks were co-chaired by Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary at Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the steady progress in ties, noting that 2025 marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
During the visit, Sibi George called on Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ian Borg to discuss ways to expand ongoing cooperation and broaden bilateral engagement. He also met Clinton J O’Neill, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, where discussions focused on enhancing defence and security collaboration.
At the consultations, the two sides assessed progress across areas including trade and investment, tourism, technology and innovation, the maritime sector, and educational and cultural exchanges. They welcomed the recent uptick in high-level engagements and agreed to sustain the momentum.
Economic cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, particularly in the context of the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Both countries agreed to advance collaboration in information and communication technology, healthcare, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and education.
The two delegations also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to working together in multilateral forums.
Separately, Sibi George interacted with Maltese business leaders to explore ways to further strengthen trade, investment, and commercial linkages between the two countries.
