Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Singapore on September 4-5, aiming to significantly strengthen bilateral relations between India and Singapore. This visit comes shortly after a high-level roundtable discussion between key ministers from both countries, signaling a renewed focus on deepening cooperation.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit is poised to elevate India-Singapore ties to “an entirely new level of cooperation.” This statement reflects the anticipation surrounding the trip, which is expected to bring about substantial advancements in various sectors.
Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East at the Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted the strategic importance of this visit. He noted that it follows a six-year gap since Modi’s last visit to Singapore. The focus of this trip will be on enhancing cooperation, particularly in the semiconductor sector, which is a key area of interest for both nations.
Mazumdar emphasized that the visit is crucial for trade and investment, given Singapore’s role as India’s largest trade partner within ASEAN. In the previous financial year, Singapore was also a leading source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), contributing $11.77 billion, making it India’s sixth-largest global trade partner.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will engage with business leaders and address CEOs in Singapore. This interaction is expected to spotlight India’s growth prospects and attract further investment. Since 2000, India has accumulated $160 billion in FDI from Singapore, underscoring the depth of economic ties between the two countries.
The upcoming visit is significant not only for its timing but also for the diplomatic context. It marks Modi’s first visit in his current term and coincides with the recent inauguration of Singapore’s new Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong. This presents an opportune moment to reinforce and set new directions for India-Singapore relations.
Mazumdar also pointed out that the visit aligns with the ongoing 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, which will be formally celebrated in 2025. Additionally, the visit highlights the 10th year of the strategic partnership between the two nations.
The recently concluded India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable has identified new areas for collaboration, including digitization, skills development, sustainability, health, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity. These sectors are expected to be central to discussions during Modi’s visit, with several new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) anticipated.
The roundtable framework has been instrumental in pinpointing these forward-looking areas, reflecting a dynamic and evolving strategic partnership. The visit will likely build upon these discussions and explore concrete steps to advance cooperation in these fields.
Overall, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Singapore is set to be a pivotal moment in enhancing bilateral ties, addressing key economic and strategic issues, and laying the groundwork for future collaboration.