Time ripe for India-Singapore bilateral relations to raise to next level: External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar

The Indian economy is projected to grow 7% in FY25 despite a slowdown to 6.7% in the first quarter of FY25; ahead of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's official visit to Singapore, External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar emphasized the opportunity for India and Singapore to elevate their bilateral relationship. He noted that the ongoing transformation in India, combined with global changes, makes a more contemporary partnership essential. He highlighted the strong ties between the two nations over the past 2 decades. He urged Singapore to seize the current opportunities by fully leveraging the new landscape. He underscored India’s rapid modernization, recovery from Covid-19, and advancements in infrastructure, and he focused on manufacturing and talent development as key growth areas.

He rejected the perception that India’s focus has shifted towards the Gulf at the expense of ASEAN, emphasizing a multi-directional approach. He acknowledged the significant progress in India's ties with Gulf nations, including investments, technology, security, and connectivity. He also highlighted the deepening ties with ASEAN during the same period. He reiterated Singapore's central role in India's 'Act East' policy, which has evolved from the 'Look East' policy, and emphasized the partnership in security, connectivity, technology, and sustainability. He also highlighted the transformative potential of the Trilateral Highway connecting India with Myanmar and Thailand.

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