Singapore PM Begins 3-Day India Visit to Strengthen Economic Ties

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong arrived in India on Tuesday for his first official visit as Prime Minister, marking a significant step in the India-Singapore partnership. The three-day visit is aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in future-oriented and strategic sectors such as green energy, shipping, civil aviation, digitalisation, and space. The timing of the visit is also notable, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, underscoring the long-standing and multi-faceted ties between the two countries.

Wong is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior cabinet ministers and officials. His delegation includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang. This reflects the importance Singapore places on strengthening its ties with India across multiple sectors.

During the visit, PM Wong will hold bilateral talks with PM Modi on Thursday, where the two leaders are expected to sign key agreements aimed at boosting cooperation in green energy, infrastructure, connectivity, and technological innovation. The two Prime Ministers will also virtually inaugurate a container terminal in Maharashtra, a project in which Singapore has invested over USD 1 billion (around Rs 8,800 crore). This infrastructure project is seen as a symbol of Singapore’s role as a major investor in India, with Singapore being India’s top source of foreign direct investment (FDI), contributing nearly 24% of India’s FDI equity inflows since 2000.

Apart from his meeting with PM Modi, Wong will call on President Droupadi Murmu and meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior cabinet members. He is also scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, reflecting the cultural and symbolic importance of India-Singapore ties.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Singapore is an important partner for India’s “Act East” policy, which seeks to strengthen political, economic, and strategic relations with Southeast Asia. The MEA also highlighted that bilateral ties were elevated to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024. This visit by Wong is expected to provide an opportunity for both leaders to review ongoing cooperation and chart a roadmap for future engagement.

The two countries are exploring collaboration in advanced and emerging areas such as sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, skills development, connectivity, and space exploration. There is also growing interest in energy cooperation, including the possibility of exporting solar power from India to Singapore via an underwater cable, as well as exports of green ammonia and green hydrogen. Such initiatives are designed to meet energy security needs while addressing global challenges such as climate change and trade disruptions.

The visit is expected to set the tone for the next phase of bilateral engagement, not just in traditional areas of cooperation but also in cutting-edge fields. Both sides also plan to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest, positioning the partnership as a model for future-oriented collaboration in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.