Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg met with the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and the Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, during the Raisina Dialogue 2026, in New Delhi, this week.
This was the first time that Malta joined this international gathering at ministerial level. Raisina Dialogue is India’s leading annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, bringing together political leaders, industry experts, academics and other prominent figures from across the globe.
Dr Borg addressed one of the conference’s sessions, under the theme “Connecting Islands of Solutions – Aligning Nature, Politics and Economics”. He talked about the challenges and opportunities of small island states, particularly the impacts of conflicts and geopolitical instability.
As he noted the ongoing regional instability in the Gulf region, he warned that “for Malta, disruptions to energy and food imports are not abstract risks, and the Government remains focused in responding to international impacts even in a context that our country has a small domestic market.”
To overcome these risks, small islands need to convert their geographic position into economic and strategic leverage, through greater roles in international maritime governance and multilateral organisations, by investing in advanced physical and digital infrastructure and establishing special economic zones, attracting cutting-edge sectors and fostering innovation. “As exemplified by Malta’s position as a leading maritime hub, this approach enables islands to become stable logistics centres and indispensable connectors within the international economy, reducing dependence on external powers,” the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.
He also stated that global uncertainties should stimulate nations to accelerate their energy transformation. As an island state that imports almost all its energy, we remain committed to build resilience through interconnections, increased renewable energy and storage, energy efficiency, and a higher diversification of sources.
Deputy Prime Minister Borg’s bilateral meeting with Minister Jaishankar focused on strengthening existing synergies between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, including clean energy, healthcare, ICT services, pharmaceuticals, the blue economy, education and connectivity.
Dr Borg commended the Indian diaspora in Malta, which continues to foster new trade and people-to-people connections between the two countries. There are approximately 114 Indian-owned businesses across diverse sectors in the Maltese Islands, including major pharmaceutical and biotechnology investments.
The two Ministers also discussed the recent conclusion of the EU–India Free Trade Agreement, which will strengthen Europe’s economic ties with one of the world’s fastest growing economies. This agreement presents promising opportunities for EU businesses, and Malta particularly values the commitments taken in certain sectors, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electrical machinery, as well as key services sectors.
In New Delhi, the Deputy Prime Minister also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism of Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath.
Photo: MFT
