India Deepens Agricultural Cooperation with Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Myanmar

11 September 2026, New Delhi: India is strengthening agricultural ties with Southeast Asian partners Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Myanmar, with discussions focused on research collaboration, technology exchange, food security, trade and institutional cooperation.

The bilateral meetings were held on 9 September in New Delhi alongside the 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF), organised by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

India–Malaysia: Focus on Research, Innovation and Market Access

India and Malaysia discussed expanding cooperation in agricultural research, technology and innovation, including the possibility of establishing a formal institutional framework through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The two sides highlighted the importance of sharing expertise, knowledge and best practices, while identifying germplasm exchange, agricultural trade and market access as areas where closer cooperation could strengthen bilateral agricultural ties.

The discussions point to opportunities for greater collaboration in research and innovation as both countries seek to build more productive and resilient agricultural systems.

India–Timor-Leste: Cooperation on Food Security and Agricultural Capacity

India and Timor-Leste explored ways to establish a stronger institutional partnership to address agricultural challenges and improve food security.

India offered to share agricultural best practices and support Timor-Leste in strengthening its research and innovation capabilities through scientist and expert exchanges and human-resource development.

Timor-Leste also proposed that India consider sending a technical and scientific team to assess challenges on the ground and provide recommendations covering agriculture, forestry, livestock and aquaculture.

Such technical cooperation could help translate India’s agricultural research and institutional expertise into practical support across multiple sectors of Timor-Leste’s food system.

India–Myanmar: Agriculture, Trade and Investment Take Centre Stage

India and Myanmar reviewed progress towards finalising an MoU aimed at expanding cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors.

The two sides also discussed opportunities to increase bilateral agricultural trade, with potential areas including pulses, cotton, dairy development and agricultural education.

Myanmar highlighted investment opportunities in its agricultural sector, suggesting scope for deeper economic engagement alongside technical and trade cooperation.

A Broader Regional Agricultural Partnership

The three meetings underline India’s efforts to expand agricultural cooperation across Southeast Asia beyond traditional trade relationships, with greater emphasis on research, technology, knowledge exchange, capacity building and resilient food systems.

With food security, climate resilience and agricultural productivity becoming increasingly interconnected across the region, partnerships involving research institutions, scientists, producers and markets could play a growing role in strengthening Southeast Asia’s agricultural value chains.

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