NewsGate Press Network

While concluding a successful visit to Singapore, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday the 5th of September 2024 that his visit to Singapore was a very fruitful one, and ties between the two countries has reached new level of partnership.

In his meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Modi said the two sides have set out a forward-looking agenda for the next phase of their bilateral relations.

In a social media statement issued on a twitter post in X,  the Prime Minister said:

“My visit to Singapore has been a very fruitful one. It will certainly add vigour to bilateral ties and benefit the people of our nations. I thank the government and people of Singapore for their warmth.”

PM Wong, said in a post on X: “Singapore and India share a deep and enduring friendship, built on strong economic & people-to-people ties. Had a productive meeting with Indian Prime Minister @narendramodiat Parliament House. We’ve set out a forward-looking agenda for the next phase of our bilateral relations.

“This includes closer cooperation in areas like sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and connectivity. We’re also upgrading the Singapore-India Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

Four MoUs were signed between India and Singapore on boosting cooperation in skilling, tech, healthcare and trade.

Both India and Singapore agreed to elevate their ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership level.

In a post on X after holding bilateral talks, the PM said:

“The discussions with my friend, PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations.”

In his remarks during the bilateral talks, PM Modi said: “Singapore is not just a partner country but is an inspiration for every developing country.

“In India we want to create many Singapores, and I am happy that we are making progress in that direction.

“The ministerial roundtable between us is a path breaking mechanism.

“With focus on cooperation in skilling, mobility, digitalisation, advance manufacturing, semiconductor, tech, AI, healthcare, security, it has become a hallmark,” he added.

Earlier on Thursday morning Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Singapore parliament and received by Singapore PM Lawrence Wong.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) – During their talks, both leaders reviewed the progress of India– Singapore bilateral relations.

Given the breadth and depth of bilateral ties and immense potential, they decided to elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This would also give a major boost to India’s Act East Policy.

Taking stock of the robust progress in economic ties, the leaders called for further expanding trade and investment flows between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Singapore with an investment of around USD 160 billion in the Indian economy, is a leading economic partner for India. He further noted that rapid and sustained growth in India has opened up immense investment opportunities for Singaporean entities.

They also reviewed existing cooperation in the fields of defence and security, maritime domain awareness, education, AI, Fintech, new technology domains, science and technology and knowledge partnership.

The two leaders called for strengthening connectivity between the countries to enhance economic and people-to-people ties.

They also called for acceleration in green corridor projects.

The two leaders discussed the outcome of the 2nd India – Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held in Singapore in August 2024. Noting that the Ministerial Roundtable is a unique mechanism, the leaders appreciated the work done by senior ministers from both sides in deliberating and identifying a new agenda for bilateral cooperation.

The leaders called for accelerated action under the pillars of cooperation identified during the Ministerial Roundtables – Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalization, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability.

The leaders underscored that the cooperation under these pillars, particularly in the areas of semiconductors and critical and emerging technologies, opens a new chapter in bilateral relations making our ties future oriented.

Their discussion also covered celebration of 60th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2025.

Highlighting that cultural connect between the two countries is an important component of these ties, Prime Minister announced that India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre would be opened in Singapore.

The leaders also exchanged views on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, including India – ASEAN relations and India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific.

Both leaders witnessed exchange of MoUs for cooperation in Semiconductors, Digital Technologies, Skill Development and Healthcare. These are the outcomes of the deliberations during the two rounds of India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtables held so far. Prime Minister invited Prime Minister Wong to visit India which he accepted.