‘Strategic partnership’: India, Singapore sign MoUs on semiconductors, digital tech

On the South China Sea, where China’s aggressive posture has raised tensions, the joint statement said: “Underlining the link between prosperity and security, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, while pursuing the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), without resorting to the threat or use of force”.

“Both sides also called on all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of actions that could escalate tensions in the region. Both leaders emphasised the legal framework set out by the UNCLOS within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and that UNCLOS is the basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests over maritime zones. Both leaders expressed hope for the early conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS, that does not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of all nations including those not party to these negotiations,” it said.

As reported by The Indian Express, the two PMs witnessed the exchange of MoUs on: cooperation in the field of digital technologies; India-Singapore semiconductor ecosystem partnership; cooperation in the field of health and medicine, and on educational cooperation and skills development.

The India-Singapore semiconductor ecosystem partnership is significant since both PMs “agreed that advanced manufacturing, particularly in developing resilient semiconductor supply chains, can be a new pillar of bilateral cooperation”, the joint statement said.

After the bilateral talks, Modi said: “Singapore is not merely a partner country; it serves as an inspiration for every developing nation. We also aim to create multiple ‘Singapores’ within India.” Stating that they are “collaborating towards this goal”, he said: “Collaborative initiatives have been identified in areas such as skilling, digitalisation, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and AI, healthcare, sustainability and cybersecurity”.

Singapore is also an important facilitator of India’s Act East policy, Modi said. “Our shared belief in democratic values connects us. I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit Singapore at the beginning of my third term,” he said.

Underlining the strategic partnership between India and Singapore, Modi said: “Over the past 10 years, our trade has more than doubled. Mutual investment has increased almost threefold to cross US$150 billion. Singapore was the first country with which we launched the UPI person-to-person payment facility.”

Giving an account of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, he said in the past decade, 17 satellites of Singapore have been launched from Indian soil. The cooperation has gained momentum, from skilling to the defence sector. The agreement between Singapore Airlines and Air India has strengthened connectivity.

“We are together elevating our relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The 3.5 lakh people of Indian origin residing in Singapore are the strong foundation of our relationship… We are forever thankful to the entire Singapore for the place and honour that Subhash Chandra Bose, Azad Hind Fauj and Little India have received in Singapore,” Modi said.

In 2025, the India-Singapore relationship will celebrate its 60th anniversary. To mark this occasion, he called on both countries to collaborate on an action plan.

“I am delighted to inform you that India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre will soon be inaugurated in Singapore. The great saint Thiruvalluvar provided guiding thoughts to the world in the most ancient language Tamil. His work, the Thirukkural, was composed nearly 2,000 years ago, yet its ideas remain relevant even today,” Modi said.

The leaders called for further expanding trade and investment flows between the two countries. Modi highlighted that Singapore, with an investment of around US$ 160 billion in the Indian economy, is a leading economic partner for India. He noted that rapid and sustained growth in India has opened up immense investment opportunities for Singaporean entities.

The leaders also exchanged views on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, including India-ASEAN relations and India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific.

Wong accepted Modi’s invitation to visit India. The meeting between the two leaders comes months after Wong took over as premier and Modi began his third term as PM.

Modi later met former Singapore premier Lee Hsien Loong, who he called a “strong votary of close India-Singapore ties”, and appreciated his contribution to the development of India-Singapore strategic partnership. He also met 81-year-old Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who was the second premier of the city-state.

Later, he invited Singapore’s business leaders to look at investment opportunities in India in sectors like aviation, energy and skill development. In his interaction with a group of leading Singaporean CEOs from diverse sectors, Modi said India had made transformative progress in the last 10 years and would continue on the same path given its strengths of political stability, policy predictability, ease of doing business, and its reform-oriented economic agenda.

Referring to the aviation sector, Modi said India would be requiring more than 100 new airports and more airline companies to meet the rising domestic traffic. “If there is any fastest growing aviation market in the world, it is in India…the entire sky is open,” he said.