NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday held bilateral talks and witnessed the signing of several MoUs between India and Singapor. The two leaders also jointly inaugurated the JN Port PSA Mumbai Terminal (BMCT) Phase-II in Delhi.
Addressing a joint presser, Modi welcomed the Singaporean PM on his first visit to India after assuming the office of the Prime Minister of Singapore.
PM Modi said, “This visit is more special as we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the India-Singapore relationship. During my last visit to Singapore, we elevated our ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the bilateral relations with Singapore, noting the large-scale investment from South East Asian nation in India.
“Today, in the South East Asia region, Singapore is our largest trade partner. There has been a large-scale investment from Singapore in India. Our defence relations are continuously getting stronger. People-to-people relations are deep and vibrant. Today, we have prepared a detailed roadmap for the future of our partnership. Our cooperation will not be limited to traditional areas only. In keeping with the changing times, areas like advanced manufacturing, green shipping, skilling, civil, nuclear and urban water management will also become the focal point of our cooperation,” PM stated.
PM Modi said that India and Singapore have decided that the Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and our Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN will be reviewed in a time-bound manner to accelerate mutual trade.
“Our states will also be important stakeholders in India-Singapore relations, the PM said, adding, “When President Tharman visited India in January, he visited Odisha. In the last one year, the Chief Ministers of Odisha, Telangana, Assam and Andhra Pradesh have visited Singapore.”
He further added, “GIFT City in Gujarat has become another new bridge to connect our stock markets. The Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership Agreement, signed last year, has also given a new direction to research and development. The active participation of Singapore companies in the Semicon India Conference was a big thing in itself. Singapore will help in setting up a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Chennai. This centre will prepare skilled manpower in the field of advanced manufacturing.”
Reflecting on the technological cooperation between the two countries, Modi apprised that India and Singapore have decided to enhance cooperation in AI, quantum and other digital technologies.
“The agreement in the space sector today is adding a new chapter to cooperation in the field of space science. We have decided to hold the next round of the India-Singapore Hackathon later this year to connect our youth with their talent. UPI and PayNow are successful examples of our digital connectivity, and it is a matter of pleasure that 13 new Indian banks have joined them today,” he added.
PM Modi also thanked Singapore for its support to India following the barbaric April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. “We have common concerns about terrorism. We believe that it is the duty of all humanitarian countries to fight terrorism in solidarity. I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Wang and the Singapore government for their condolences to the people of India after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and for their support in our fight against terrorism.”
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, thanked PM Modi for the warm hospitality extended to him during the visit and hailed India’s progress under Modi’s leadership.
“I am glad to be back on my first official visit as Prime Minister and to celebrate 60 years of close and enduring friendship between our two countries. Over this past decade, India has made remarkable advances under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. India is now the fourth-largest economy in the world, with a dynamism and influence felt far beyond its borders,” he said.
Emphasising the depth of bilateral economic ties, Wong further pointed out that Singapore is the largest foreigninvestorin India.
“Singapore is the largest foreign investor in India, accounting for around a quarter of India’s foreign direct investment inflows and our cooperation now spans a wide and diverse range of fields. Last year, PM Modi and I agreed to elevate relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This morning, we had fruitful discussions on how we can take this comprehensive strategic partnership forward,” he said during the joint presser.
Noting the India has launched more than 20 Singapore-made satellites, PM Wong said that the two nations will further expand the cooperation in frontier areas like space.
“Through the MoU on promoting collaboration in the space sector, we will broaden this partnership and push the boundaries of what we can achieve together. Finally, Prime Minister Modi and I reaffirmed that people-to-people ties remain the bedrock of our relationship. We agreed to enhance exchanges, including through closer civil service cooperation,” he added.
Agencies
Modi, Singapore PM Wong expand cooperation in space, AI, green shipping
