In a bid to strengthen bilateral ties, senior ministers from India and Singapore convened for the second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR). The multi-ministerial discussions focused on advancing collaboration across key sectors such as digitalisation, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing.
The Indian delegation, which included Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, held wide-ranging talks with their Singaporean counterparts. These discussions marked a follow-up to the first ISMR held in New Delhi in September 2022 and come ahead of a possible visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Singapore next month.
According to a statement from India’s Ministry of Finance, the roundtable aimed to “further enhance cooperation between India and Singapore in emerging and futuristic areas.” During the meeting, both sides reviewed the progress made since the first ISMR and deliberated on the six pillars of collaboration identified during that inaugural session. These six pillars include digitalisation, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing.
The discussions also touched upon the upcoming 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Both sides expressed a desire to commemorate the milestone by continuing to build on the strong foundation of cooperation that exists between India and Singapore. Additionally, regional and global issues, including developments within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of Twenty (G20), were discussed at length.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to highlight the outcomes of the roundtable. He described the meeting as “productive” and expressed appreciation for Singapore’s continued commitment to strengthening the bilateral partnership. Jaishankar specifically acknowledged the efforts of the Singaporean delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, in fostering deeper ties between the two countries.
“The ISMR enables the emergence of a more contemporary partnership,” Jaishankar said, underlining the significance of the roundtable in evolving India-Singapore relations. He also noted that the discussions during the first ISMR had led to the successful conclusion of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on various topics, including healthcare, education and skill development, digital cooperation, and the semiconductor ecosystem.
The Singaporean delegation was composed of several high-ranking officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower Dr. Tan See Leng, and Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat. Their presence underscored Singapore’s strong commitment to bolstering its strategic partnership with India.
In addition to the roundtable discussions, the Indian ministers also held separate meetings with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During their meeting with President Tharman, the leaders emphasized boosting the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership by focusing on digitalization, green initiatives, and skill development. Finance Minister Sitharaman lauded President Tharman’s efforts in promoting multilateralism and his contributions to global governance reform, particularly in the context of India’s G20 Presidency last year.
“Honoured to jointly call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore,” Jaishankar stated in a post on X after the meeting. He also conveyed the warm greetings of Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Singaporean leader.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal echoed the sentiment in his own post on X, noting that discussions with Singaporean leaders aimed at deepening the strong economic ties between the two countries. He emphasized the importance of collaboration across key sectors to drive growth and innovation.
The Indian delegation’s meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was similarly productive. Jaishankar expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Wong’s ongoing engagement with the ISMR, which he described as a unique mechanism for setting a new agenda for India-Singapore relations.
The ISMR is a distinctive platform designed to facilitate high-level discussions and decision-making between India and Singapore. By addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in critical sectors, the roundtable is positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
As India and Singapore prepare to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations, the outcomes of the second ISMR underscore a shared commitment to building a stronger, more dynamic partnership that will not only benefit both nations but also contribute to broader regional and global stability.