«Singapore Prime Minister's Visit to India: New Horizons of Cooperation»

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made his first official visit to India from September 2 to 4, 2025. This visit marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, underscoring both nations' commitment to strengthening their ties. During the trip, Prime Minister Wong met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a number of other key ministers, leading to the signing of several important bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation across various sectors.

Key Bilateral Agreements:

• Five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering civil aviation, space, skills development, digital asset innovation, and the creation of a green and digital shipping corridor.
• Cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, and other digital innovation sectors.
• New initiatives in green shipping, upskilling programs, civil nuclear energy, and urban water supply.
• Accelerated review and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement to boost trade and investment.
• Expansion of digital payment connectivity with the linking of 13 new Indian banks to the UPI-PayNow international payments system.
• The inauguration of the second phase of the PSA International Container Terminal in Mumbai symbolizes expanded cooperation between ports and shipping companies.
• Exploring opportunities for exporting solar energy, green ammonia, and hydrogen from India to Singapore.
• An agreement to hold the next India-Singapore Hackathon later in 2025 to promote innovation and collaboration among young talents.

Strategic and Economic Significance:

Singapore is India's largest trade partner in Southeast Asia and plays a crucial role in India's Act East policy. Since 2000, Singapore has made significant investments in India, with cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounting to approximately USD 175 billion, accounting for about 24% of India's total FDI inflows. Key sectors attracting Singaporean investment include services, software, trade, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals.

The visit also reaffirmed the commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was expanded in 2024. This partnership aims to deepen collaboration in areas such as sustainable development, advanced manufacturing, digitalization, connectivity, space, and geopolitical resilience.

Diplomatic Engagements:

Prime Minister Wong met with Indian President Droupadi Murmu and held discussions with ministers from various sectors, including health, finance, external affairs, education, and national security. Both leaders emphasized their shared concerns regarding terrorism and the importance of global unity in combating this threat.

The visit included a cultural component: Prime Minister Wong paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and met with the Singaporean overseas community in India.

Conclusion:

This visit and the ensuing agreements lay the groundwork for an enhanced and multi-faceted partnership between India and Singapore. Key focus areas include economic growth, technological innovation, sustainable development, and strengthened regional cooperation, ensuring a prosperous future for both nations.