Ministers reviewed progress under six ISMR pillars—Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalization, Healthcare, Skills Development, and Sustainability—identified new initiatives, and acknowledged the private sector’s key role.
About India-Singapore Relations
- Diplomatic Ties: India recognised Singapore’s independence in 1965.
- CECA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement) signed in 2005; upgraded to Strategic Partnership (2015) and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024).
- 2025 marks the 60th year of diplomatic relations.
- Trade & Investment: Singapore is India’s largest ASEAN trade partner and 6th globally (2023–24, 3.2% share).
- Digital & Fintech: UPI–PayNow cross-border payments and RuPay acceptance in Singapore.
- Multilateral Engagements: Singapore is a member of International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuel Alliance etc.
- Defence Exercises: Agni Warrior (Army) and SIMBEX (Navy).
- People-to-People Ties: Indian diaspora is 9% of Singapore’s population.
- Tamil is one of the official languages.
Significance for India
- ASEAN Bridge: Strengthens India’s trade, connectivity, security, and counterterrorism links with ASEAN, supporting the Act East policy and Indo-Pacific goals.
- Crisis Partnership: During COVID-19, Singapore provided India with medical aid and oxygen, while India supplied vaccines under the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
- Countering China: Access to Changi Naval Base helps India strengthen its presence and balance China’s influence in the region.
