- Friday, September 13, 2024
Senior ministers from the two countries held a “productive” round of discussions at the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable in Singapore
By: Shajil Kumar
THE HIGH-LEVEL meeting between senior ministers of India and Singapore has set the stage for prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city-state.
Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that Modi will soon visit the country.
The senior ministers from the two countries held a “productive” round of discussions at the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in Singapore and explored how the two countries can boost bilateral cooperation in digital, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity and advanced manufacturing.
India was represented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, and electronics and information technology, railways, and information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The inaugural edition was launched in September 2022 by then Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during a five-day visit to India.
Balakrishnan said advanced manufacturing and semiconductors, as well as aviation and maritime connectivity, are the new areas that Singapore and India have added to a high-level platform for discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.
These two additions are areas of significant opportunity for both countries, as well as their companies, the Singaporean foreign minister was quoted as saying by The Straits Times on Tuesday.
India is also likely to see tremendous growth in aviation in the coming years, having ordered more than 1,000 planes in the past year alone, the Singaporean foreign minister said.
The minister said it represents great opportunities for services such as maintenance and air operations in the coming years – a niche area where Singapore and its companies are globally competitive.
Singapore was represented at ISMR by Balakrishnan, deputy prime minister and trade and industry minister Gan Kim Yong, home affairs and law minister K. Shanmugam, digital development and information minister Josephine Teo, manpower minister Tan See Leng and transport minister Chee Hong Tat.
At a dinner following the roundtable meeting, deputy prime minister Gan said Singapore and India are natural partners with complementary strengths that have allowed both sides to forge strong economic and investment ties.
Indian companies also form one of the largest foreign corporate contingents in Singapore, he noted. (PTI)
