Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Singapore is expected to usher in a new era of bilateral relations, according to Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule.
Ambule emphasized the significance of the visit, occurring early in both PM Modi’s third tenure and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s term. “This visit provides an excellent opportunity to elevate our relationship to unprecedented heights,” Ambule said.
The envoy highlighted that the recent India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) on August 27 laid the groundwork for discussions during PM Modi’s visit. The agenda, already set by four Indian ministers and six Singaporean counterparts, will be further consolidated and cemented during the high-level meetings.
The High Commissioner said India is looking at diversifying the fields of cooperation into emerging areas like advanced technology manufacturing and semiconductors.
“This is also the 10th year of our strategic partnership, so we are looking at enhancing the level of cooperation and engagement, and we are diversifying the fields of cooperation to include areas which have now come up, like the emerging areas I mentioned of advanced technology manufacturing, green growth, and sustainability,” Ambule said.
“We are also looking to develop our semiconductor clusters. One is about FAB (fabrication facility), but the other is about the FAB equipment manufacturers, chemicals, gas suppliers. Singapore has developed that very well. So we are looking to collaborate with Singapore in this sector as well. Skilling in the semiconductor sector, we are also trying to collaborate in that,” he added
While trade and investment remain crucial focal points, Ambule revealed that talks would also encompass contemporary issues such as green technology, sustainability, connectivity, advanced manufacturing skills, and healthcare. “Bilateral trade has more than doubled in the last decade, and we aim to push it even further,” he added.
Singapore currently stands as India’s largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), with equity inflows reaching approximately USD 71.774 billion. Ambule noted that India is actively encouraging Singaporean companies and funds to invest in emerging sectors like logistics, warehousing, and commercial real estate.
The visit marks PM Modi’s return to Singapore after nearly six years, coinciding with the approach of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. This milestone will also mark a decade of the Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
In a special briefing ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East) said the two countries have a dynamic Strategic Partnership and ties have evolved. It encompasses diverse areas from our shared history and people-to-people ties, which form an important link between the two nations.
“Our trade and investment flows have shown a steady growth. We have robust defence cooperation and growing exchanges in culture and education and we have identified new anchors of our partnership under the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable Framework,” the MEA official said.
As India’s largest trade partner in ASEAN and sixth largest worldwide, Singapore’s importance in India’s economic landscape is undeniable. With bilateral trade reaching USD 36.6 billion last year and cumulative FDI of about USD 160 billion since 2000, the upcoming visit is expected to further solidify this crucial partnership.
(Inputs from ANI)