India, Singapore Explore Stronger Ties in Digital, Skills, and Industry

• India and Singapore held the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in New Delhi, focusing on digitalisation, skill development, and industrial infrastructure cooperation.
• Both nations explored collaboration in semiconductors, green energy, advanced manufacturing, and cross-border skills training, with Singapore supporting India in setting up five skill centres.
• The roundtable strengthened bilateral ties ahead of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s India visit, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations and emphasizing technology, investment, and innovation.

India and Singapore discussed deepening cooperation in digitalisation, skill development, and industrial infrastructure in the third edition of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in New Delhi. The roundtable coincided with the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who headed a six-member Singapore delegation to discuss new areas of cooperation between the two countries. The ISMR, which was launched in 2022 while then-Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was visiting India, is a platform for enhancing mutual engagement in technology, trade, and innovation.

During the talks, both sides reiterated the existing relationship based on robust economic and people-to-people ties. They looked at developments since the previous roundtable in Singapore in 2024 and welcomed broadening cooperation in fields like sustainability, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity. The ministers also exchanged views on cross-border data flows, capital markets, and skills training in industries like semiconductors, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and India's national centres of excellence.

The Singapore team represented by the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Digital Development Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, and Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow appeared opposite the Indian team represented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw.

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The visit precedes Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's journey to India in early September to celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. Commentators observed that heightening global economic uncertainties, such as the effects of US tariffs, have increased the need to deepen regional alliances. Prof C. Raja Mohan pointed out that cooperation in semiconductors and high-end manufacturing could enable both nations to temper external economic pressures.

Semiconductors and green energy became areas of cooperation. India's bid to develop local chip manufacturing has created the opportunity for Singaporean firms, as seen with Cleantech Services setting up expanded operations in India. The two nations are also examining how to export green energy, such as green hydrogen from Odisha to Singapore through an envisioned green shipping corridor.

Upskilling continues to be the focus, with Singapore assisting India in the establishment of five skills centres, the biggest of which at Odisha trains 3,000 young people in vertical transport, mechatronics, and air-conditioning. On a call on President Droupadi Murmu, the two sides commemorated 60 years of diplomatic relations and underlined the significance of skilling, investment, and innovation. Business leaders at Blackstone Singapore and Temasek also participated in discussions involving digitalisation, industrial parks, and infrastructure finance, a broader theme of economic and technological cooperation between India and Singapore.