S'pore, India to upgrade ties to comprehensive strategic partnership

New pacts on semiconductor growth, and to boost digital, skills and healthcare links

- Anjali Raguraman

India and Singapore have strengthened ties and agreed to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Singapore.

The intent to upgrade ties from the existing strategic partnership was announced in a Facebook post by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sept 5.

"Singapore and India share a deep and enduring friendship built on strong economic and people-to-people ties," said PM Wong, adding that the move is a timely one.

The countries will be marking 60 years of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership in 2025.

A comprehensive strategic partnership will deepen existing areas of cooperation and enable new ones. Australia is the only country with which Singapore has such a partnership. The Republic is also exploring the possibility of ones with Vietnam and France.

Signalling a greater cooperation in various sectors, India and Singapore exchanged agreements earlier in the day to help firms here tap India's growing semiconductor industry and tighten digital links between the two countries.

They will also step up cooperation in areas such as skills development and healthcare.

Four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were exchanged at Parliament House, witnessed by both prime ministers.

These were first signed by Singapore and India ministers on the sidelines of the second edition of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), which was held at Shangri-La Singapore on Aug 26.

Mr Modi, who was in Singapore for two days from Sept 4, earlier received a ceremonial welcome by PM Wong at Parliament House.

India aims to grow its semiconductor industry and become a global node for semiconductor manufacturing, while players in Singapore's established ecosystem are looking to enter emerging markets.