EAM Jaishankar Praises 'Productive' India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable
The second India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) took place in Singapore, marking a significant step forward in enhancing bilateral cooperation. The meeting focused on key areas including digital technology, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing.
The Indian delegation, led by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, engaged in discussions with their Singaporean counterparts. Singapore was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng, and Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat.
EAM Jaishankar described the discussions as 'productive' and expressed gratitude towards the Singaporean ministers for their dedication to strengthening the bilateral relationship. “ISMR enables the emergence of a more contemporary India-Singapore partnership”, Jaishankar noted on X after the meeting.
Earlier, the Indian delegation met with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and attended a luncheon hosted by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Wong, who led the Singapore delegation at the first ISMR held in New Delhi in September 2022, highlighted the roundtable’s role in deepening bilateral ties. “Glad that progress has been made on several fronts since our last meeting. New ideas for cooperation, including in advanced manufacturing and connectivity, will pave the way for closer strategic cooperation and partnership”, Wong said.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also met with CEOs of various Singaporean companies, discussing how these stakeholders could further invest in India. Goyal emphasized the alignment of these investments with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The ISMR, a high-level mechanism established to chart a new course for India-Singapore relations, also reviewed progress from the inaugural roundtable. The first ISMR focused on emerging areas such as digital connectivity, fintech, green economy, skill development, and food security. Following the inaugural meeting, a FinTech Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in Gujarat.
Prime Minister Modi had previously expressed hope that such initiatives would further strengthen bilateral relations. The establishment of the ISMR reflects the unique nature of the India-Singapore partnership and aims to drive future collaboration across various sectors.
