International: Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, is set to lead India’s official delegation at the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair in Kuala Lumpur on April 18–19. His participation marks a strategic diplomatic initiative as part of the ASEAN-India Tourism Professionals Exchange Programme 2025, underscoring India’s commitment to deepening regional tourism partnerships.
Regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s most influential travel trade events, the MATTA Fair offers a significant platform for international collaboration. India’s participation holds special significance this year, aligning with the Ministry of External Affairs’ declaration of 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism. The event will not only highlight India’s diverse travel offerings but also place a special emphasis on the cultural and ecological treasures of North-East India.
The Ministry noted that Margherita’s leadership underscores a concerted government effort to bring the North-East region into global tourism focus. Organised in collaboration with the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) and backed by the ASEAN-India Fund, the programme will feature a diverse mix of tourism stakeholders — including travel operators, policy experts, and government representatives — all working to build meaningful connections with their Southeast Asian counterparts.
In addition to attending the main expo, Margherita is expected to hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings with leading Malaysian business figures and representatives of the Indian diaspora. These engagements are aimed at deepening cultural ties and enhancing bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
The MATTA Fair, representing nearly 3,000 travel-related entities, plays a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia’s tourism policy and offers a key interface for ASEAN countries to promote cross-border travel and investment. India’s participation under Margherita’s stewardship is not just about tourism promotion—it reflects a larger diplomatic vision where tourism serves as a bridge for regional integration and soft power.
As India continues to project its cultural diversity and economic vibrancy on the world stage, the Kuala Lumpur event reinforces Pabitra Margherita’s emerging role in advancing the country’s external engagement strategy and bolstering tourism-led diplomacy.