Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), highlighted the strong and multifaceted relationship between India and Singapore during a special briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the city-state. Mazumdar emphasized that the two nations not only complement each other but also rely on their partnership for continued growth.
“India and Singapore have a very multidimensional relationship,” Mazumdar said. “We have strong defence ties, conducting joint exercises and maintaining frequent exchanges between our military establishments, navies, and air forces. Ship visits and information exchange in areas like maritime domain awareness are routine, and we look to deepen our cooperation in these areas.”
He further stressed the economic, trade, and investment ties between the two countries, noting Singapore’s position as India’s largest foreign investor since 2020. Since 2000, Singapore has invested nearly $160 billion in India. Mazumdar added that the countries are entering new areas of cooperation, including sustainable technologies, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and skills development.
Mazumdar also highlighted the critical role the Indian diaspora plays in strengthening the relationship between the two nations. “The diaspora serves as a bridge between India and Singapore, contributing significantly to the business environment and fostering warmth across leadership levels,” he said.
Discussions between Prime Minister Modi and Singapore’s leadership focused on how India and Singapore, along with ASEAN, can shape the future of the region, Mazumdar said. Free and open trade, sea lines of communication, and overflight rights are important for both nations to maintain growth, he said. Mazumdar indicated that global and regional issues, including China’s role in the region, were also part of the discussions.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi met Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, where they exchanged views on deepening bilateral cooperation. Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted lunch in honor of PM Modi, during which regional and global matters of mutual interest were also discussed, according to an official MEA release.
The MEA release said that both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress of India-Singapore relations, which were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit. “There is significant potential to expand cooperation, particularly under the pillars of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable,” the statement said.
PM Modi shared his reflections on the meeting with Lee Hsien Loong, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “It is always a pleasure to meet my friend and former PM of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong. His insights on strengthening India-Singapore ties, especially in areas like green energy and FinTech, were invaluable.”
PM Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong held bilateral talks at Singapore’s Parliament House. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering digital technology, semiconductors, skill development, and healthcare.
The leaders also reviewed the progress of India-Singapore relations, calling for expanded trade and investment flows. They confirmed their intention to celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2025.
As part of the visit, Prime Minister Modi toured the semiconductor facility of AEM Holdings Ltd, where he was accompanied by PM Lawrence Wong. During the visit, the leaders interacted with Indian and Singaporean interns participating in training programs as well as Indian engineers working at the facility.
PM Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday after concluding his visit to Brunei, receiving a warm welcome from Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugham, as well as members of the Indian community at Changi Airport.
(ANI)