Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-day official visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore on Tuesday, marking a significant diplomatic step for India.
PM Modi’s visit to Brunei Darussalam, from September 3-4, comes at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. This trip is historic as PM Modi becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to undertake a bilateral visit to Brunei. The visit is seen as a crucial move to strengthen ties between the two nations, which are celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations.
In his departure statement, PM Modi expressed enthusiasm for his visit: “Today, I am embarking on a first-ever bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam. As we celebrate 40 years of our diplomatic relations, I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to advance our historical relationship to new heights.”
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Following his time in Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore on September 4, where he will meet with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. He will also engage with leaders from Singapore’s business community to discuss deepening the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Areas of focus will include advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development.
“Both countries are important partners in our Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision,” PM Modi stated. “I am confident that my visits will further strengthen our partnership with Brunei, Singapore, and the larger ASEAN region.”
Diplomatic Interactions
The visit follows recent diplomatic interactions, including a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Brunei’s Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof last month. During this meeting, they launched a logo to commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations.
PM Modi and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah first met at the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014, with subsequent meetings at the 2017 East Asia Summit in Manila. In January 2018, the Brunei Sultan and other ASEAN leaders visited India for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and were guests of honor at India’s 69th Republic Day celebrations.
In 2013, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Brunei to participate in the 11th ASEAN-India Summit and the 8th East Asia Summit.
India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ Policy
The Ministry of External Affairs reports that the Brunei government has supported India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policies, fostering closer cooperation with ASEAN. Indian naval and coast guard ships have regularly visited Brunei, and Indian defense companies Bharat Electronics Ltd and MKU Limited made their debut at the Brunei Defence Industry Exposition in June 2024.
Currently, around 14,500 Indians live in Brunei Darussalam, contributing to various sectors including oil and gas, construction, and retail.
After his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will focus on enhancing cooperation with Singapore in digital technology, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing. Earlier this week, Indian ministers, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, participated in the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable held in Singapore.
