NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a three-day visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore on Tuesday, expressing confidence that the trip would bolster India’s partnerships with both nations.
Before his inaugural bilateral visit to Brunei, PM Modi highlighted the significance of his upcoming meetings with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other members of the Royal family, stating that these engagements would elevate the historical ties between the two countries.
“Today, I am embarking on my first-ever bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam. As we celebrate 40 years of our diplomatic relations, I look forward to advancing our historical relationship to new heights through discussions with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family,” PM Modi said.
Following his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore on Wednesday, where he will meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. In Singapore, the leaders will review the progress of the India–Singapore Strategic Partnership and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet with business leaders in Singapore.
“I look forward to deepening our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in emerging areas such as advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development,” PM Modi stated. “Both countries are key partners in our Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. I am confident that my visits will further strengthen our ties with Brunei, Singapore, and the broader ASEAN region.”
What’s on the Agenda?
Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaideep Mazumdar, noted that discussions in Brunei would cover a wide range of topics, including defense, trade and investment, energy, space, technology, health, capacity building, culture, and vibrant people-to-people exchanges.
Regarding the Singapore leg of the visit, Mazumdar pointed out that this trip marks PM Modi’s first visit to Singapore in six years and coincides with the tenure of newly appointed Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. This visit provides an opportune moment to set the stage for the next phase of the dynamic bilateral relationship.
“Our ties with Singapore have evolved into a dynamic strategic partnership encompassing diverse areas, rooted in our shared history and strong people-to-people connections,” Mazumdar said. “Our trade and investment flows have shown steady growth, we have robust defense cooperation, and our cultural and educational exchanges are expanding. We have also identified new anchors for our partnership under the India-Singapore Ministerial Round Table framework. The visit will coincide with the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations in 2025 and the 10th year of our strategic partnership with Singapore.”
On the topic of semiconductor cooperation between India and Singapore, Mazumdar emphasized Singapore’s strong integration into the global semiconductor ecosystem, with over 20 years of experience in the field. “This is an area we are keen to explore, and discussions during the visit will focus on enhancing cooperation in this sector. We expect the visit to significantly advance our collaboration in semiconductors,” he added.
Mazumdar also highlighted the significance of PM Modi’s visit to Singapore from a trade and investment perspective, noting that Singapore is India’s largest trading partner within ASEAN, the sixth-largest trade partner worldwide, and the largest source of FDI during the last financial year.
