Singapore, India elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership as Indian PM Modi concludes visit

They discussed potential collaborations in areas such as cross-border electricity trade and green ammonia supply chains, a joint flagship programme for skills training, enhancing cross-border data flows via the Gujarat International Finance and Tec-City (GIFT City), and cooperation in developing industrial parks in India.

They also witnessed four exchanges of government-to-government Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), including areas such as digital cooperation, education and skills development, health and medicine, and semiconductor ecosystem cooperation.

Both prime ministers welcomed the regular high-level visits and consultations between Singapore and India, and reaffirmed the importance of their deep and longstanding defence relationship built on close historical ties, shared strategic perspectives and common interests.

They recognised that bilateral business and commercial linkages constitute key drivers of the wide-ranging India-Singapore partnership, read the joint statement.

Mr Modi and Mr Wong 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,” the joint statement said.

During Mr Modi’s trip, both prime ministers also expressed their convergence of views on regional and international issues.

They reaffirmed the importance of “maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, while pursuing the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), without resorting to the threat or use of force”, said the joint statement.

They also recognised that terrorism continues “to remain the single most significant threat to peace and stability and reiterated their strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.