Discussion at Ministerial Level: India and Singapore deliberate on expanding their bilateral collaborations
In a significant step forward for their bilateral relationship, India and Singapore have elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024-2025. This move, marked by a series of strategic and economic engagements, has seen trade, connectivity, and digitisation efforts flourish.
On August 13, 2025, the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) was held in New Delhi, serving as a key platform for advancing these multifaceted ties. The roundtable discussion focused on broadening and deepening bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, and digitisation.
The 4th Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment met in August 2025 to deepen cooperation, focusing on expanding trade, improving logistics and supply chains, simplifying regulations, and boosting cross-border trade facilitation. Emphasis was also placed on emerging industries and skills development.
Singapore's investments in Indian infrastructure are substantial, with major projects including port expansion. The roundtable also highlighted plans to enhance supply chain resilience and maritime cooperation, such as creating a green shipping corridor.
In the realm of digitisation and technology, efforts include digitalising trade processes, semiconductor cooperation, and a proposal to lay an undersea cable between the two nations capable of transmitting solar energy.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that synergy between government and industry is key to unlocking the next phase of India-Singapore ties. He also emphasised that improved connectivity infrastructure would boost the tourism sector.
The Singapore delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. The delegation included National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, and Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow.
The ISMR acts as a testament to the deep, broad-based relationship developed over 60 years and a new phase of cooperation emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and connectivity. The partnership is positioned as a model for regional cooperation in South and Southeast Asia.
India's imports from Singapore in FY25 were at $21.3 billion, while exports were at $13 billion. Singapore accounts for 27.83% of India's overall trade with the ASEAN, making it the region's largest trading partner. Over the last 25 years, Singapore has been the leading source of foreign direct investment into India, with total investment of almost $174.8 billion.
The inaugural ISMR meeting was held in New Delhi in September 2022, and the second ISMR meeting was held in Singapore in August 2024. The exact date and location of the third roundtable are not specified, but it took place on a Wednesday.
The India Singapore Business Roundtable delegation was also present at the roundtable, further strengthening the economic ties between the two nations.
[1] India-Singapore Relations [2] India-Singapore Joint Statement [3] India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable [4] India-Singapore Joint Statement 2024 [5] India-Singapore Joint Statement 2025
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