India–Malta relations

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Malta-India relations

Malta	India
Diplomatic mission
High Commission of Malta, New Delhi	High Commission of India, Birkirkara
Envoy
Maltese High Commissioner to India Reuben Gauci	Indian High Commissioner to Malta Sangeeta Bahadur

India-Malta relations are the diplomatic relations between India and Malta. Malta opened a High Commission in New Delhi in 2007.^[1] Malta also has Honorary Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

In early 2018, India opened a High Commission in Malta at 29, Triq Galanton Vassallo in Santa Venera. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Political relations[]

The political relations between the nations of Malta and India stretch back many years even before the two became independent nations. With the arrival of British to Malta in 1800 AD Maltese were taken to India by the British. Many Maltese dead lie buried in Indian graveyards. Maltese Catholic missionaries followed Maltese soldiers into India. In 1878, the British controlled Indian government dispatched 7000 Indian troops to the island of Malta.^[2][3][4]

In 1924, Maltese Catholic Missionaries established themselves among the Santhal tribes in Dumka, Jharkhand, India. Over 73 Maltese Catholic priests have lived in India since 1924. In WWl Malta was used by the British for treating the wounded and for rehabilitating the injured. There are Memorials at Pietà Military Cemetery to twenty eight Indians who fought for the British in World War I and died of wounds or illness in Malta. The bodies of 13 Indian soldiers and seven men of the Indian Labour Corps, who died in Malta, were cremated at the Lazzaretto Cemetery on Manoel Island. Some of the Indians who died in Malta are Rifleman Dadrat Gurung, Havildar Jitbhadhur Thapa, Daffadar (Sergeant) Bal Ram, Driver Moti Lal, Driver Jai Ram and Labourer Khew Marak. Throughout World War II, the British used Malta as hub to bring Indian troops to and from the Atlantic.^[5] India was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Malta in 1964. India established diplomatic relationship with Malta in 1965. A High Commission of India was opened in Malta in 1993 but was later closed in 2002. Malta opened a High Commission in New Delhi in 2007. Malta also has a Consulate in Chennai, Kolkata and in Mumbai. In 2018 India reopened a High Commission at Triq Galanton Vassallo, St Venera in Malta.^[5][6]

According to a United Nations trade agreement, the two nations meet at least once annually to discuss economic, industrial, scientific and technological trade as well as other relationship issues.^[7][8] As part of the United Nations treaty both nations decided to establish stronger cultural ties.^[9] Added both nations agreed to honour each other's cultural heritage and promote cultural ties in each other's countries.^[9]

Diasporas[]

Plaque at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in the Maltese capital Valletta in memory of Rinaldo Sceberras, a Maltese Captain who was killed in Battle of Ferozeshah, India on 21 December 1845

A renowned Maltese lived and worked in India in the 16th century CE. That was around the period of Emperor Akbar's reign of India. India was the leading global economy at that time. With the arrival of Britain to Malta in year 1800 CE, Maltese went to India during the mass exodus out of Malta in the early 19th Century.^{[citation needed]} A few Maltese in India fought alongside Britain against Indian freedom fighters and Princely states. Maltese Catholic missionaries followed Maltese soldiers to India where some are present to date. In 1924 AD. Maltese Catholic Missionaries set themselves up among the Santhal tribes in Dumka in Jharkhand state of India for aim of spread of Catholicism and for conversions. Seventy three Maltese priests have lived in India since 1924 and a few are still there. The mission has been able to achieve over 170,000 Hindu conversions. With the new strict visa rules coming into force in India, Maltese missionaries' entry into India is now very restricted. There are several Maltese residents in India supported by the Maltese Consulate in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata that provide Consular service to them. Maltese firms like Malta Enterprises have a presence in India.^[10] Briton built a Memorials at Malta Pieta Military Cemetery to Indians who fought for the Briton in World War I. The bodies of 13 Indian soldiers and seven men of the Indian Labour Corps, who died in Malta during the war, were cremated at the Lazzaretto Cemetery on Manoel Island. Memorials for the Indian dead were built at Pieta Military Cemetery. Entry to Pieta Military Cemetery is by Triq II-Principessa Melita. Some of the Indians who died in Malta are Rifleman Dadrat Gurung, Havildar Jitbhadhur Thapa, Daffadar (Sergeant) Bal Ram, Driver Moti Lal, Driver Jai Ram and Labourer Khew Marak. In year 2007, there were around 200 Non-Resident Indians living in Malta.^[6] The number of Maltese living in India is unknown.

Malta has a well-established small traders community of about 45 Sindhi Indian families, that traces its roots to migration of Sindhi traders starting around 1887 under British colonial rule of Malta. Malta did not attract people from any other part of India although Maltese have a continued presence in India since 1800 AD. On the partition of India by the British in 1947, Sindh was given to Muslim dominated Pakistan thus many Hindus in Sindh province fled and went to whichever country that was willing to take them that included Malta. While both countries were under British rule, Malta served as a convenient trading node for exporting silk and curios from India and Far East to places around the Mediterranean and South America. However following India's independence, and due to strict immigration laws in Malta, not a single Indian is said to have emigrated to Malta between 1952 and 1985. The traders of Indian descent in Malta belong to the Sindhi community and are locally known as l-Indjani ("the Indians").^[11] The community maintains Indian traditions in Malta, such as privately organising celebrations of Diwali, Holi^[12] Onam^[13] and other Hindu festivals. Though once isolated, it is now somewhat integrated into Maltese society and regarded as a local minority. Indians living in Malta keep a low profile in Maltese society.

Hinduism[]

Unlike USA, UK, most of the EU and much of the World there is religious discrimination in Catholic Malta. Hinduism and related religions (Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism) are not recognised as religion in Catholic Malta and described as Cults.^{[citation needed]} There is no Hindu temples or a temple of any religions of Indian origin in Catholic Malta. A 1st floor flat used as 'Maltese-Indian Community Centre', 'Sukh Sagar', 25 Triq Bella Vista, San Gwann SGN 2690 acts as a Hindu centre. Hindu cremations are prohibited after the British left Malta and Hindu deceased are buried under Catholic funeral rites in Catholic Malta.^{[citation needed]}

Economic relations[]

A pair of Indian Maruti Gypsy vehicles in Gozo, Malta.

Historical relations[]

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Trade between India and the Italian-Greek region of the Mediterranean date back to the days before the ancient Roman and Greek empires. Emperor Cyrus II of Persia (600 – 530 BCE) linked Greece with India when he extended his empire over both the countries. Trade with India was by land using caravans. However Greek Eudoxus of Cyzicus (130 BCE) is reported to have sailed to India in 116 to 118 BCE through the Arabian sea paving the way for Greek trade with India by sea.^{[citation needed]} For several centuries Indian-made hand looms were sought after by ancient Greek and Romans. The trade in hand loom between Rome and India is recorded by Roman general and politician Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo. Also on record is that Roman emperor Augustus received at Antioch an ambassador from a South Indian king Pandyan of Dramira in ancient India. On Egypt coming under Roman rule in 30 BCE sea trade between Rome and India flourished and that lead to Roman settlements in Southern India. However the Greeks traded with India much before the Romans. The Greek trade with India was by land with the exception of Greek sea navigator Eudoxus of Cyzicus who used the sea route for trade with India. A few Greeks settled in North India. Among them the well known Indo-Greeks were Demetrius and Menander. Buddhist religion prospered under Indo-Greek rulers. The Indo-Greek rulers combined the Greek and Indian languages, ideas and symbols, Roman General Strabo (II.5.12), wrote that under Emperor Augustus, up to 120 Roman ships sailed from Myos Hormos (Al-Qusayr) in Roman Egypt to India each year. Later in the 1st century CE Roman land caravans gained entry to Northern India. Greeks (Yavanas) and Romans traded their wines, coral, copper, tin, lead, glass, antimony and aromatic storax for South India's precious beads, ivory, pearls, turmeric, cardamom, myrrh, fine cotton and mallow cloth, and most importantly, pepper. But garum and olive oil also came to ancient south India with Romans.^{[citation needed]} The Roman's Indian settlements till the 5th century CE were in Arikamedu, a Tamil fishing village and Muziris in Kerala. In October 1938 an ivory statuette of Indian goddess Lakshmi was found in the ruins of Pompeii, Italy. Pompeii was destroyed in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The statuette represents the Indian goddess of feminine beauty and fertility. The Lakshmi statuette is another proof of commercial trade between India and Rome in the first century CE. Archaeological evidence recently found in Egypt, show that Indian merchants who traded with the Mediterranean areas were inhabitants of the Coromandel Coast of India, that proves the extent of the East-West interrelations during that period.^{[citation needed]}

Recent relations[]

The Maltese government encourages Indian firms to set up business in Malta. In order to attract Indian businesses Malta has offered various incentives to Indian companies.^[14] Malta has also signed a bilateral trade agreement with the Indian government, for the avoidance of double taxation.^[15] A global Indian pharmaceutical company has invested €16 million and set up a manufacturing plant in Hal Far, Malta that gives employment to hundred of Maltese and helps train Pharmacy students at the University of Malta. India's Aurobindo Pharma is increasing its investment and expanding its facilities in Malta.^{[citation needed]}

Bilateral trade between India and Malta witnessed a phenomenal growth. During the April–November 2012 period, India's exports to Malta had reached US$265.26 million whereas imports from Malta were US$22.96 million.^{[citation needed]} The main items of India's exports to Malta are marine products, drugs, pharmaceutical & fine chemicals, inorganic/organic/agro chemicals, manufactures of metals, transport equipment and other commodities. The main items of India's imports from Malta are pulp and waste paper, metal scraps, organic chemicals, medicinal & pharmaceutical products, electronic goods.^{[citation needed]}

Malta has successfully persuaded some of the Indian Bollywood film makers to shoot films in Malta. The last India film made in Malta was the 'Thugs of Hindostan' in June 2017. Malta earns USD millions from the Indian film industry in the process. Added the most expensive weddings in Malta today are Indian Hindu weddings. Maltese firms have been sponsoring several Indian Hindu weddings worth USD millions. An Indian wedding in October 2017 of Priya with Rishi cost Euro 2 million.^{[citation needed]}

Consulate of India, in Santa Venera

The Maltese government encourages Indians to set up business in Malta. Several Maltese trade missions often lead by Ministers frequent India. Since 2007 Malta has a large diplomatic presence in India with a Malta High Commission in New Delhi and a Malta Consulate each in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. For trade and Indian investment promotion Malta Enterprises has an office in India. The Maltese efforts are rewarded with Indian global Pharmaceutical giant 'Aurobindo Pharma' build a Euro 16 million plant in Hal Far which employs hundreds of Maltese and helps train Pharmacy students from University of Malta.^{[citation needed]} India's 'Aurobindo Pharma' is expanding its investment and interests in Malta. In November 2017, Malta's Enemalta plc and India's Streamcast Technologies Inc., part of the India's Streamcast Group, signed an agreement for the development of a Euro 75 million global data centre in Marsa, Malta.^{[citation needed]} The aim of the pilot project is to develop a high-end data centre. In order to attract Indian businesses Malta has offered various incentives to Indian companies.^{[citation needed]} Malta has also signed a bilateral trade agreement with the Indian government, for the avoidance of double taxation.^{[citation needed]} India now has a High Commission at Triq Galanton Vassallo, St Venera.

High level visits[]

Maltese Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami visited India in 1989. India and Malta later exchanged presidential visits: Indian President Ramaswamy Venkataraman visited Malta in 1990, and Maltese President Ċensu Tabone visited India in 1992.^[16] In March 2005, Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo visited India for a period of six days.^[17][18][19] In November 2013 the Maltese Foreign Minister George Vella met Shri Salman Khurshid, on the side-lines of ASEM meeting in New Delhi. In February 2015 (05-07), Leo Brincat, Minister for Sustainable Development visited India to participate in the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. In March 2018, Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela, visited India from 5–8 March 2018.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2014, a high level CEOs delegation led by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) visited Malta at the invitation of Malta Enterprise to scout for business opportunities. CII and Malta Enterprise also signed a MoU for cooperation. In November 2013, the Maltese Foreign Minister Dr. George Vella met Shri Salman Khurshid, on the side-lines of ASEM meeting in New Delhi. In 5–7 February 2015 Mr. Leo Brincat, Minister for Sustainable Development visited India to participate in the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. Maltese PM Muscat again met with British Indian billionaires and Industrialists including the Hindujas who topped the UK rich list on several occasions. The meeting took place at the House of Lords at the 'Indo European Business Forum' gathering on 2 and 3 November 2018 . Malta PM Muscat later visited India from 18 to 20 January 2019 and met Indian PM Modi.^{[citation needed]}

See also[]

• Foreign relations of Malta
• Foreign relations of India
• Hinduism in Malta

Bibliography[]

• Mark-Anthony Falzon, Origins and establishment of the Indian Business Community in Malta, Bank of Valletta Review, No. 24, Autumn 2001

References[]

External links[]

• High Commission of Malta in New Delhi
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta
• Malta Media article on trade