India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks
DPM Gan led a six-member Singapore delegation at the third edition of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), which aims to boost collaboration between the two nations in emerging fields.
According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press statement, the two sides reaffirmed the close and longstanding relationship between Singapore and India, underpinned by strong economic and people-to-people ties.
They reviewed the good progress since the last meeting in Singapore in 2024, and expressed support for deeper cooperation in a wide range of areas that included sustainability, healthcare and medicine, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity.
The ministers also discussed collaboration on cross-border data flows and capital markets via the use of regulatory sandboxes, as well as cooperation on skills training in semiconductors, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and India's national centres of excellence.
The other members of the delegation from Singapore were Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng, and Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow.
The Indian side was represented by Indian Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The visit by DPM Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, comes ahead of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's visit to India in early September as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.
Wong launched the inaugural version of the ISMR during a visit to India in September 2022, when he was deputy prime minister.
The second ISMR meeting was held in Singapore in August 2024, ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Republic.
India and Singapore are further expanding cooperation at a time of global economic uncertainty brought about by the US' so-called reciprocal tariffs.
India, the world's fourth-largest economy, has been on the receiving end of US President Donald Trump's unpredictable levies, which have left many businesses facing a potential 50 per cent tariff.
All this has added new urgency for India to expand on existing economic ties with friendly countries like Singapore, noted analysts.
'The external world is changing so much. The Trump effect is beginning to unfold. Singapore has got 10 per cent and India is in a different place, but the need for regional engagement is increasing to limit some of the damage, even for Singapore,' said Professor C. Raja Mohan, visiting research professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies.
'At the last roundtable, new ideas had come forward for cooperation in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. India and Singapore can work together to manage the consequences (of the Trump tariffs on the global economy).'
The third edition of the ISMR took place in New Delhi on Aug 13.
Under the ISMR, the two countries have been working on newer areas of cooperation like semiconductors and green energy while expanding in older areas of cooperation like skills training, where Singapore has helped India set up institutes.
A key emerging area of cooperation is in the semiconductor space, where India's bid to boost local manufacturing has opened up opportunities for Singaporean companies, which are looking to new markets.
In 2024, during Modi's visit, Singapore and India signed a memorandum of understanding on semiconductors that would help to facilitate the entry of Singapore companies.
This has helped Singapore firms like Cleantech Services, which provides gas and chemical supply equipment and systems used in chip manufacturing, to expand operations in India.
Mujeeb Mundayil, managing director of Singapore start-up Cleantech Services, said that the high-level discussion provided a platform between the two countries 'to share feedback and work on solutions to on-the-ground challenges'.
He said: 'Such cooperation (between India and Singapore) will not only strengthen supply chains, but also accelerate the growth of the Indian semiconductor ecosystem.'
India, starting from scratch, has moved fast with six semiconductor plants under construction across different states, including Gujarat and Assam, with the South Asian country and the first Made in India chip to be rolled out later this year.
Eyeing a five per cent share of the global market by 2030, the government on Aug 12 announced the approval for four more projects under the India Semiconductor Mission.
The two countries are also looking for ways to export green energy from India to Singapore.
In January, Sembcorp Green Hydrogen India, a subsidiary of Singapore's Sembcorp Industries, signed a non-binding agreement with the Odisha government to set up a green hydrogen manufacturing facility in Paradeep.
They are also looking at setting up a green shipping corridor to facilitate shipping and support the use and trading of green fuels from Paradeep Port in the state of Odisha to Singapore, a distance of around 1,900 nautical miles.
The two countries have been expanding cooperation in areas that were previously identified as well.
Upskilling is the need of the hour for India, where more than 65 per cent of the population is under 35, for the country to ensure that this demographic dividend does not become a liability.
Singapore's Institute of Technical Education Services has helped set up five skills centres in different parts of the country.
The biggest one, with the capacity to train 3,000 young Indians, was set up in the eastern state of Odisha in 2021 with courses in vertical transport, mechatronics, and air-conditioning and refrigeration.
During a call on Indian President Droupadi Murmu by the Singapore ministerial delegation led by DPM Gan on Aug 13, the two sides hailed the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the countries.
India and Singapore enjoy close political and economic ties.
Singapore is India's top foreign investor and has accounted for about 24 per cent of India's foreign direct investment equity inflows since 2000.
Singaporean companies are constantly looking for opportunities in the fast-growing economy in areas like manufacturing, sustainability, data centres, and tech and innovation.
Many Indian start-ups, apart from multinational companies, use India as the regional headquarters, particularly in the fintech and healthtech space.
The discussions under the ISMR are beneficial for business, noted Neil Parekh, chairman of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI).
'The discussions at ISMR are expected to enhance cooperation in key sectors such as digital economy, fintech, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and skills development,' he said.
'These align closely with the priorities of SICCI and the broader Indian business community in Singapore, offering new pathways for investment, innovation and cross-border partnerships.'
The Singapore ministers also called on Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Aug 13, with the two sides hailing the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and reaffirming their strong bilateral cooperation.
President Murmu and the Singapore delegation discussed the ISMR and highlighted the importance of cooperation on skilling.
During their meeting, DPM Gan conveyed President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's invitation to President Murmu to make a state visit to Singapore at a mutually convenient time.
The ISBR is a business-led forum that brings together select leaders to identify initiatives that could strengthen the partnership between the business communities in India and Singapore, as well as forge cultural and people-to-people ties.
Blackstone Singapore senior managing director and chairman Gautam Banerjee and Temasek Holdings executive director and chief executive Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara were among the business leaders who discussed ideas for potential partnership in areas such as digitalisation, industrial parks, skilling and infrastructure financing at the forum. - The Straits Times/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Modi: Enough sabre-rattling
Clarion call: Modi addressing the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. — Reuters/Bloomberg Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbour if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks yesterday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, where he said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's 'nuclear blackmail'. 'India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on. But this blackmail will not be tolerated now.' Pakistan previously has rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. India celebrates its Independence Day just one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead. It triggered one of the largest human migrations in history; some 12 million people fled their homes. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of a war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed insurgents. Islamabad denied responsibility or any links while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine insurgent 'infrastructure' sites. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after US mediation. Pakistan immediately claimed it shot down six Indian aircraft during the clashes. India acknowledged some losses but did not provide details. Last week, India's air force chief said India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in the first such public claim by India. Pakistan rejected it, saying both sides should open their aircraft inventories to independent verification. During his speech yesterday, Modi also hinted India would continue its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The treaty, which India suspended after the April massacre, allows sharing of the Indus River that runs about 2,897km through South Asia and is a lifeline for both countries. 'Rivers from India were irrigating the lands of enemies while my country's farmers and land faced a deficiency of water,' Modi said. 'India has now decided that blood and water will not flow together.' Pakistan has said any effort by India to stop or divert the water from flowing into Pakistan would be considered an 'act of war.' — AP
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
On India's Independence Day, Modi vows to punish Pakistan for future attacks
NEW DELHI (AP): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan that India will punish its neighbor if there are future attacks on India as he marked 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. Modi's remarks on Friday come three months after nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense fighting, their worst clash in decades. Modi addressed the country from New Delhi's 17th-century, Mughal-era Red Fort, saying India has established a "new normal' that does not differentiate between "terrorists' and those who support terrorism. He said he would not tolerate what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail." "India has decided that it will not tolerate nuclear threats. For a long time, nuclear blackmail had been going on, but this blackmail will not be tolerated now,' Modi said. There was no immediate response from Pakistan to Modi's remarks. Pakistan has previously rejected India's statements about nuclear blackmail as provocative and inflammatory. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced the creation of a new "Army Rocket Force Command' to bolster the country's defense capabilities. Sharif made this announcement during a speech marking Independence Day celebrations, but gave no further details. India celebrates its Independence Day one day after Pakistan. The two states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead. It triggered one of the largest human migrations in history and some 12 million people fled their homes. India and Pakistan exchanged tit-for-tat military strikes in May that brought them to the brink of war. The fighting between the two countries was sparked by an April massacre by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Days after the massacre, India launched strikes on Pakistan and said it had hit nine "terrorist infrastructure' sites. "Terror infrastructure was turned to rubble,' Modi said in his speech Friday. Pakistan responded by sending waves of drones into India, as well as missile and artillery bombardments. Dozens of people were killed on both sides until a ceasefire was reached May 10 after U.S. mediation. Pakistan immediately claimed it shot down six Indian aircraft during the clashes, including a French-made Rafale fighter. India acknowledged some losses but did not provide details. Last week, India's air force chief said India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in the first such public claim by India. Pakistan rejected it, saying both sides should open their aircraft inventories to independent verification. During his Friday speech, Modi also hinted India would continue its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. The treaty, which India suspended after the April massacre, allows the sharing of the Indus River that runs about 2,897 kilometers (1,800 miles) through South Asia and is a lifeline for both countries. "Rivers from India were irrigating the lands of enemies while my country's farmers and land faced a deficiency of water," Modi said. "India has now decided that blood and water will not flow together." Pakistan has said any effort by India to stop or divert the water from flowing into Pakistan would be considered an "act of war.' Modi did not directly mention US President Donald Trump's tariffs on India in his Independence Day speech, but said he would not compromise on the agriculture sector, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations with the US. Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia. India has resisted US pressure to open its markets to some farm products as Modi's government is unwilling to risk angering farmers, who are a powerful voting bloc. "India will not compromise on the interests of farmers," he said. Modi claimed India's demography was being changed as part of a "conspiracy' through illegal migration and announced what he called a "high-powered demographic mission' to tackle the problem. He did not provide further details. "No nation in the world can hand over itself to infiltrators,' he said. Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly described the influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as a "national security crisis' and claimed that unchecked Muslim infiltration from the country is leading to a demographic shift in India. In recent months, Indian officials have conducted what they call a verification drive, which they say is intended to identify immigrants lacking legal status. Many people, most of them Muslim, have been detained or expelled to neighboring Bangladesh. - AP
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
India wants US ties based on mutual respect
US President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% last week from an earlier 25%. (Getty Images/AFP pic) NEW DELHI : India said today that it hoped relations with the US would move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests, seeking to temper worries that ties were headed downhill in the aftermath of high tariffs imposed by Washington. A US defence policy team will be in New Delhi this month for talks with Indian officials and its arms purchases from the US are on course despite the strain in ties, the Indian foreign ministry said. A new friendship built between the two countries has hit a rough patch after president Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% last week from an earlier 25% saying it was a penalty for India's continued imports of Russian oil. New Delhi has accused the US of double standards in singling it out for Russian oil imports and called the tariffs unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. At the same time, it has also indicated that the warming of ties that began at the turn of the century covers a wide range of areas and should not be seen only through the prism of trade, although it hopes that trade talks will continue and result in a deal. 'This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges… and we hope that the relationship will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests,' Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing. Purchases of military equipment from Washington were on course, Jaiswal said, adding that a US defence policy team was expected in Delhi this month. Reuters reported last week that India has put on hold its plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft and that a planned trip to Washington by the Indian defence minister had been cancelled. The Indian government subsequently said reports of a pause in the talks were wrong.
