New Delhi: India and Singapore today agreed to focus on cooperation in the development of Indian ports, collaborate in India’s growing MRO sector, in skill development, in semiconductors and also explore cooperation in civil nuclear cooperation.
Following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore PM Lawrence Wong, the two sides in a joint statement outlined an ambitious roadmap to take forward their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and outlined eight areas under it: Economic Cooperation; Skills Development; Digitalisation; Sustainability; Connectivity; Healthcare and Medicine; People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges; and Defence and Security Cooperation.
India has also evinced interest in joining the maritime patrolling in the busy Malacca Straits.
The two sides agreed to deepen bilateral trade and access to markets, including through building on their Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
The two sides also agreed to achieve substantial review of the ASEAN India trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) in 2025.
In the field of semiconductors, the two sides agreed boost cooperation under the India-Singapore Semiconductor Policy Dialogue; advance resilient semiconductor supply chains; explore mutually beneficial research and development collaborations and potential partnerships between Indian and Singapore firms.
In the field of space, the two sides agreed to promote collaboration between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the Office for Space Technology & Industry, Singapore, as well as Earth observation and satellite communication technologies and applications.
They also agreed to develop a National Centre of Excellence in Chennai, in the field of semiconductors and also cooperate in the field of skilling.
Explore collaboration opportunities in critical and emerging technologies.
They agreed to cooperate in the establishment of an India-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) between the Port of Singapore and ports in India to deepen maritime connectivity and work towards the establishment of a green maritime fuel corridor;
They agreed to collaborate in India’s growing aviation and aerospace MRO sectors through partnerships between Indian and Singapore companies in these sectors, including the sharing of Singapore’s expertise and the provision of upskilling opportunities;
They also agreed to expand the bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance air connectivity, and partner in airport development, including in management services for Indian airports;
In healthcare, the two sides agreed to deepen collaboration in health and medicine fields including in digital health intervention and disease surveillance.
In Defence and Security Cooperation, the two sides agreed on continued defence and security cooperation at all levels, including regular meetings between the two Defence Ministers and exchanges through the joint conduct of army, naval, and air force exercises.
Deepen defence technology cooperation in emerging areas such as Quantum Computing, AI, Automation and Unmanned Vessels; Continue the cooperation in maritime security and submarine rescue, Strengthen cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness. “Singapore acknowledges with appreciation India’s interest in the Malacca Straits Patrol,” the statement added.
On terrorism, it said both sides reaffirmed strong commitment to combat terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, and reiterated zero-tolerance to terrorism.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to institutionalise the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable as a foremost mechanism to annually monitor the progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
UNI
