Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of Singapore to India’s “Act East” policy during his visit there on Thursday, September 5, 2024. India hopes to emulate Singapore’s great achievements within its own borders.
In addition to meeting with his counterpart Lawrence Wong from Singapore, Modi also inked semiconductor Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the goal of strengthening the semiconductor supply chain. He said that Singapore will host the opening of India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center shortly, as the two nations prepare to commemorate their bilateral relations’ 60th anniversary next year.
Prime Minister Modi :
Prime Minister Modi stated, “Singapore is not just a partner country for India,” during his speech in Hindi. All developing countries should take inspiration from Singapore. In India, we hope to establish numerous Singapores. “Singapore is a vital part of our Act East policy,” he continued. Our common democratic beliefs bind us together.
Prior to his arrival in Singapore on Wednesday, Modi visited the neighboring country of Brunei. At the Singapore Parliament House, he was accorded a traditional welcome. He praised Singapore’s Indian-origin community in his official statement, saying they offer a “solid foundation” for the two countries’ relationship.
“We are always thankful to Singapore for honoring Subhas Chandra Bose, the Indian National Army, and Little India (an ethnic district in Singapore),” Modi said in his statement of gratitude. Our partnership will age 60 in 2025, and both parties intend to celebrate this significant occasion with tremendous fervor. He also declared the opening of Singapore’s Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center, India’s first of its kind.
Prime Ministers Modi and Lawrence Wong reportedly spoke on “continuous cooperation in defense and security, maritime domain awareness, education, AI, fintech, new technology domains, science and technology, and knowledge partnerships,” according to the Ministry of External Affairs. It was also mentioned by sources that during meetings regarding Southeast Asia, both leaders discussed the unrest in Myanmar.
Semiconductor Materiel
The signing of a semiconductor memorandum of understanding between Singapore and India was the high point of the visit. India’s Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, and Singapore’s Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, signed this Memorandum of Understanding.
According to a statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, the agreement will enable both countries to “leverage their complementary strengths in the semiconductor ecosystem and create opportunities to build resilience in their semiconductor supply chains.”
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong commented, “This MoU reflects Singapore and India’s commitment to work together in the semiconductor space to meet the demands of industries worldwide,” in reference to the exchange of memoranda of understanding. Additionally, it will increase the robustness of the semiconductor supply chain and open up new markets and economic prospects for enterprises in both of our nations.
Prime Minister Modi visited AEM, a well-known Singaporean company in the semiconductor and electronics industries, and took a tour of its manufacturing plant. Additionally, he extended an invitation to Singapore’s semiconductor firms to take part in the Semicon India show, which is set for September 11–13 in Uttar Pradesh.
In addition to the semiconductor deal, the parties also inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on digital linkages, which would improve cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, and healthcare cooperation and allow for better coordination in the event of future pandemics. With a focus on skill development, the fourth Memorandum of Understanding sought to foster cooperation in technical and vocational education and training.
During their lunch meeting, Singapore’s Senior Minister and former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong was also complimented by Prime Minister Modi for his efforts to improve India-Singapore relations.
Following their prior discussions, Prime Minister Modi and Senior Minister Lee expressed satisfaction with the advancements made in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Singapore, according to a statement provided by the Ministry of External Affairs addressing the visit.
Following nearly twenty years of service, Senior Minister Lee was succeeded by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in May. Wong and Modi both spoke. Furthermore, Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong were met by Prime Minister Modi.
