Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will embark on a three-day official visit to India from September 2, sources said, marking a key milestone in 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, covering areas such as skill development, finance, digitalisation, civil aviation, space collaboration, and shipping.
Bilateral Engagements
- PM Wong will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuing the momentum from Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024, which elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- A joint statement on the partnership is expected, setting a roadmap for trade, skill training, sustainability, connectivity, healthcare, defence, and cultural exchange.
Key Initiatives During the Visit
- Inauguration of Phase II of PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) project in Navi Mumbai.
- Exploration of green energy exports from India via Singapore.
- Discussions on establishing an MRO hub in Bengaluru with Singaporean investments.
- Collaboration on data storage, small module reactors, space tech, quantum tech, and aircraft repairs.
Trade and Investment Highlights
- Singapore is India’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, a leading source of FDI, external commercial borrowings, and foreign portfolio investments.
- Cumulative Singaporean investments in India reached approximately $159 billion from 2014–2024 and are expected to hit $175 billion by end-2025.
- Recent years have seen accelerated investment activity from Singapore in India.
Skill Development and Education
- India-Singapore collaboration has led to skill development centres in six states, with two more underway.
- MoUs on cooperation in education and skill development were exchanged during the 2024 visit.
Fintech and Digital Cooperation
- Cross-border fintech arrangements include RuPay card acceptance in Singapore and UPI-PayNow linkage, enabling the first cross-border P2P payment facility.
Defence Cooperation
- Pursued under the Defence Cooperation Agreement (2003), renewed via the Enhanced Agreement for Defence Cooperation (2015).
- Joint military exercises include:
- Army: Exercise Agni Warrior
- Navy: Exercise SIMBEX (32nd edition held July–August 2025)
- Air Force: Joint Military Training
- India-Singapore Exercise Bold Kurukshetra concluded earlier this month
Space Collaboration
- ISRO has launched Singaporean satellites, including Singapore’s first indigenous microsatellite in 2011 and subsequent satellites in 2014, 2015, and 2023.
