Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, marking the final leg of his two-nation tour. Shortly after landing, he met Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for a private dinner at the historic Sri Temasek bungalow, the official residence of the Singaporean Prime Minister. This visit, Modi’s fifth to Singapore, follows his previous trip to the city-state in 2018.
On Thursday, PM Modi will receive an official welcome at the Parliament House. He is set to meet Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Wong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. In the afternoon, he will participate in a business roundtable organized by the Singapore Business Federation. The roundtable will involve interactions with leaders from Singapore’s semiconductor sector and students from the India Ready Talent Programme who interned in India.
Historic Two-Nation Tour Wraps Up with Singapore Visit
PM Modi’s arrival in Singapore came after a historic two-day visit to Brunei, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Southeast Asian nation. Upon arrival in Singapore, he was welcomed by Singapore’s Minister of Home Affairs and Law, K. Shanmugam. The Indian diaspora in Singapore greeted Modi with traditional Maharashtrian dance and drums. Modi also participated in the festivities by trying his hand at the dhol.
In a post on X, PM Modi expressed his anticipation for the visit, highlighting the potential for strengthening India-Singapore relations. He emphasized India’s reforms and its appeal as an investment destination. “I look forward to my discussions to deepen our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in new and emerging areas such as advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development,” Modi stated in his departure statement.
Focus on Economic and Cultural Collaboration
During his stay, PM Modi aims to reinforce the strategic partnership between India and Singapore. Discussions are expected to cover various areas including digital innovation, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing.
Singapore is India’s largest trade partner in ASEAN and a leading source of foreign direct investment. According to Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East at the Ministry of External Affairs, Singapore is India’s sixth-largest global trade partner and the top FDI source from the last financial year, with cumulative FDI reaching approximately $160 billion since 2000.
The visit also follows a high-level Indian delegation’s participation in the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held in Singapore last week.
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