S'pore-India partnership a beacon for like-minded countries, says DPM Heng

Steady ties can rally partner nations to cooperate for growth, development, he says

- Arvind Jayaram

Assistant Foreign Editor Singapore and India's longstanding partnership can serve as a beacon to rally like-minded countries to cooperate for growth and development in a more contested world, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Sept 5.

The steady ties could also encourage the countries' partners around the world to harness technology and innovation, and to deepen trust and appreciation for each other's diversity, he said.

"We are confident that continued bilateral exchanges such as Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's visit today will unlock many new opportunities for collaboration that will benefit not only our two countries, but also the wider Asean and Asian region and others globally," said DPM Heng.

Mr Modi was on an official visit to Singapore from Sept 4 to 5, where both sides agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

DPM Heng was speaking at the inaugural Singapore India Forum, held at The Fullerton Hotel. Themed "The Next Phase", the forum was organised by the Singapore chapter of the Singapore-India Partnership Foundation, the NUS Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) and the Singapore Business Federation.

Elaborating on what this next phase could hold for Singapore-India collaborations, DPM Heng shared three suggestions on how the two countries could shape and steer towards even more impactful outcomes.

"First, economic growth will remain a work in progress – it is never done, and in fact, will become more complex," said DPM Heng, who is ISAS' patron.