Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is likely to visit India next month, and both countries are preparing to finalise a number of new initiatives ahead of the high-level trip. The proposals are expected to be discussed during the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Wednesday, 13 August, according to people familiar with the matter.
The two sides are looking to conclude close to 10 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in key areas such as advanced technology, connectivity, skilling, and digitisation. These agreements are aimed at further strengthening the bilateral partnership between the two nations, which was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore in September last year.
Among the most ambitious of the proposals under consideration is the development of an undersea cable that will carry solar energy from India to Singapore. The same cable is also expected to provide data connectivity. A feasibility study conducted on the project has flagged certain challenges in laying the cable due to the presence of the Andaman Trench, the people said. Discussions are ongoing to explore ways to overcome the technical hurdles.
As part of the broader focus on digital collaboration, India and Singapore have established a financial data regulatory “sandbox” at Gujarat’s Gift City to facilitate regulatory cooperation in the financial technology sector.
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The ISMR, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seen as a unique mechanism for setting a new agenda for cooperation between the two countries. “India and Singapore share a comprehensive strategic partnership. The third round of ISMR will identify avenues to further broaden and deepen our bilateral relations,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. It added, “Envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ISMR is a unique mechanism for setting a new agenda for India-Singapore cooperation.”
The ministerial roundtable will see participation from key Indian ministers including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Singaporean delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. It will also include National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, and Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow.
The upcoming meeting is expected to focus on expanding cooperation in skill development in priority sectors such as aviation, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. A joint plan is being explored to provide training to around one lakh Indian workers annually. Deliberations may also cover the export of green ammonia and green hydrogen from India to Singapore, as part of the broader green energy partnership between the two countries.
The roundtable may also touch upon global trade developments, including the impact of tariff policies by major economies like the United States, and explore ways to safeguard mutual trade interests.
Boosting trade and investment is likely to remain a core priority. Singapore was India’s sixth-largest trading partner in the financial year 2024–25. During this period, India’s imports from Singapore stood at USD 21.2 billion, while exports to the country amounted to USD 14.4 billion. Singapore is India’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and continues to be a leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI), external commercial borrowings, and foreign portfolio investment. Over the past decade, Singapore’s annual investments in India have ranged between USD 10 billion and USD 15 billion.
The inaugural ISMR took place in New Delhi in September 2022, followed by the second meeting in Singapore in August 2024. The third round aims to set the stage for deeper engagement, including preparations for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s upcoming visit to India.
