At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, paid an Official Visit to Singapore on 04-05 September 2024. The current visit is the fifth visit of Prime Minister Modi to Singapore.
As part of his visit, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome and had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Wong. Prime Minister Modi called on President of the Republic of Singapore His Excellency Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Prime Minister Modi also met Senior Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Mr Goh Chok Tong. Both Prime Ministers visited AEM, a leading Singaporean company in semiconductor and electronics sector. Prime Minister Modi had an interaction with CEOs of leading Singaporean companies.
Prime Minister Wong congratulated Prime Minister Modi on winning a historic third term and expressed his belief that India would continue on its upward trajectory of development and have an increasingly greater role and position in the international arena under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Wong for assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore and expressed his belief that, under his exceptional stewardship, Singapore will continue to move forward and remain a model of economic development for others.
Both Prime Ministers acknowledged India and Singapore’s shared history, long tradition of friendship based on trust and mutual respect, and extensive cooperation across a wide range of areas. They reviewed and expressed satisfaction over the progress in the bilateral relationship, which has developed into an all-round cooperation, including in the areas of political, economic, security, technology, education, people to people and cultural links. India and Singapore will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year. Against this backdrop, both Prime Ministers agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level of a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’, to deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation.
Both Prime Ministers welcomed the regular high-level visits and consultations between India and Singapore. Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Wong and Senior Minister Lee for Singapore’s support for India’s G20 Presidency in 2023 and participation of several Ministers, officials and other dignitaries from Singapore in G20 meetings in India, including the visit of the then Prime Minister Lee to India for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi. Prime Minister Wong congratulated Prime Minister Modi for the success of India’s G20 Presidency.
Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the deep and longstanding defence relationship between the two nations which is built on close historical ties, shared strategic perspectives and common interests. Noting the high level of exchanges and bilateral exercises by the three services (Army Exercise Agni Warrior, Navy Exercise SIMBEX & SITMEX and Air Force Exercise JMT), they commended the Armed Forces for maintaining a high level of professional exchanges through regular interactions. Prime Minister Modi appreciated Singapore’s support, as the country coordinator for India-ASEAN dialogue partner relations from 2021-2024, for co-hosting the inaugural ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise which allowed India to collaborate with the ASEAN Member States in addressing common maritime security challenges in the region. He also expressed his firm belief in the need to further strengthen such cooperation which enables both sides to address common challenges in contemporary and niche domains and help reap benefits from collective wisdom, in the true spirit of cooperation. Prime Minister Wong expressed his deep appreciation of India’s consistent support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ training in India which has elevated in both scope and scale in all domains, and welcomed India’s active participation in the regional security architecture, particularly through the ADMM-Plus mechanism.
Both Prime Ministers recognized that bilateral business and commercial linkages constitute key drivers of the wide-ranging India-Singapore partnership. Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed the significance of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) signed in 2005, and reviewed in 2007 and 2018, for the economic partnership between the two countries. They desired an early conclusion of the Third Review of CECA, which will ensure the agreement remains fit for the future economies of India and Singapore. They also affirmed the importance of the review of the ASEAN- India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more user-friendly, simple and trade facilitative for business, with the aim to achieve substantial conclusion in 2025. Both Prime Ministers agreed that India offers immense investment opportunities for Singaporean investors. Both Prime Ministers also acknowledged the collaborations between Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) and various states in India on smart cities and urban infrastructure including housing. These include workshops in sustainability and urban water management with India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban and Affairs. Both Prime Ministers also welcomed the signing of the MOU between SCE and the state of Assam on urban planning and management for the city of Guwahati. The Prime Ministers also recognized the progress in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) Connect, which is the first of its kind trading linkage between Singapore’s and India’s capital markets established by the Singapore Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.
Both Prime Ministers noted the signing of the MoU on cooperation in the sphere of law and dispute resolution in March 2024. They agreed to work together to promote the exchange of people, expertise and information, as well as facilitate, hold and organize events and courses on international commercial dispute resolution, promotion of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and other areas of mutual interests.
Both Prime Ministers noted that relevant agencies of the two countries are already working on cooperation in areas of Science and Technology. Prime Minister Modi appreciated Singapore’s support for hosting the inaugural ASEAN – India Women Scientists Conclave in Singapore in April 2024. Both Prime Ministers were also appreciative of the ‘India-Singapore e-Workshop: Advancements in Digital Health and Medical Technologies’, held in July 2024, which initiated dialogue between India and Singapore under the MoU on Science & Technology Cooperation. The Prime Ministers also noted the successful award of the first joint call for India-Singapore Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme in August 2024 and look forward to such continuous collaborations in the coming years.
Both Prime Ministers agreed to further intensify the strong human, spiritual and cultural linkages between India and Singapore. Prime Minister Modi expressed deep appreciation for Singapore’s harmonious multicultural society that has supported and provided opportunities for all communities, including the Indian community, to be part of the Singaporean society.
Both Prime Ministers lauded the cooperation between both sides at regional and international fora and reaffirmed efforts to strengthen cooperation particularly in the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Commonwealth, and related forums and as well as other regional cooperation mechanisms.
Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed Singapore’s continuing support for India as a permanent member in a reformed United Nations Security Council. Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Wong for extending support for India’s candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term.
Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work together to promote peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region. They underlined the importance of an open, inclusive, rules-based and resilient Indo-Pacific region, which promotes free trade and open markets and where differences are resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. They acknowledged India and Singapore’s close cooperation on, and support for, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
Both Prime Ministers agreed on the importance of ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture for regional peace, stability and prosperity. They supported further strengthening the ASEAN – India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which complements India’s bilateral relations with individual Member States. They appreciated the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Region which provides opportunities for further cooperation between the AOIP and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. Prime Minister Modi appreciated the valuable contribution of Singapore as the ASEAN Country Coordinator for India for the period 2021-24.
Both sides also welcomed the Quad’s support for ASEAN centrality, including the Quad’s agenda to support priorities and needs of countries in the Indo-Pacific region, and explored synergies for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Wong for the warmth of his hospitality and all the excellent arrangements made for the visit. Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India is looking forward to the visit of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to India next year. Prime Minister Modi also invited Prime Minister Wong to visit India at a mutually convenient time.