Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Singapore on his two-day official visit to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister’s visit to Singapore comes after his historic visit to Brunei under New Delhi’s ‘Act East’ policy.
India and Singapore already share a strategic alliance in the region and Prime Minister Modi’s visit today aims to “further deepen the strategic partnership”. Prime Minister Modi is visiting Singapore at the invitation of his counterpart Lawrence Wong.
This visit of the Prime Minister is taking place after six years. Prime Minister Modi’s last visit was in 2018. Former Foreign Ministry Secretary Jaideep Mazumdar said, “This was his first visit to Singapore in his first term as Prime Minister. This visit is very important because it is happening at the beginning of his tenure and also the new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has recently taken oath and the people of Singapore are excited to welcome Prime Minister Modi.”
This visit of Prime Minister Modi is taking place within a few days of Lawrence Wong becoming the new Prime Minister of Singapore and within a few weeks of Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time.
Before arriving in Singapore, Prime Minister Modi shared a post on X, which read, “I look forward to my discussions with Singapore to deepen our strategic partnership, especially in new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing, digitalisation and sustainable development.”
Prime Minister Modi, who last visited Singapore in 2018, is accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other top government officials on the visit.
“The leaders will review the progress of the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs before their departure for Brunei and Singapore said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that bilateral relations between India and Singapore have been very strong over the last two decades.
“Given the changes taking place in India and the changes taking place in the world, they need to be more contemporary. In many ways, that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to visit Singapore at the start of his third term,” The Straits Times quoted Mr Jaishankar as saying in an interview.
“Just as Singapore had an opportunity in 1992 and then in 2006, it should seize this opportunity and make full use of the new landscape,” the minister said.
PM Modi’s meetings
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will be accorded an official welcome at Parliament House tomorrow and will meet Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as well as President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Prime Minister Modi will also meet three generations of Singapore’s leadership and top CEOs.
PM Modi will meet Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Mr Wong and Mr Lee will serve separate meals to PM Modi.
Prime Minister Modi will also meet business leaders and interact with people associated with the country’s semiconductor ecosystem. This visit will enhance synergy between the semiconductor ecosystem of Singapore and India. Officials said that both the Prime Ministers will visit a semiconductor manufacturing facility.
Agreements to be signed
Memorandums of Understanding or MoUs will be signed for cooperation in manpower skill development in the semiconductor sector. From skill centres to training and recruitment by Singaporean firms, this will provide better skills and opportunities to India’s youth, officials said.
Agreements are also likely to be reached in the areas of maritime cooperation, maritime security, trade, investment, digitalisation, skills, sustainability, health, advanced manufacturing and connectivity.
India–Singapore relations
Singapore is India’s largest trading partner in ASEAN. It is also a major source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the last fiscal year, with investments of $11.77 billion in 2023 alone. Singapore has been a long-term investor in India. From 2000 till date, we have had a cumulative FDI of US$160 billion.
“This is an opportune time to set the stage for the next phase of India-Singapore bilateral relations and for a vibrant India-Singapore bilateral relationship. Our relations have evolved and we have a dynamic strategic partnership, spanning diverse sectors, with our shared history and people-to-people ties forming a vital link between us,” the Ministry of External Affairs said ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.
