SINGAPORE, Dec 28: In 2024, Singapore experienced a significant transition as the baton was handed over to the fourth generation of leaders from the People’s Action Party after two decades. This year also saw a strengthening of ties with India.
Economist Lawrence Wong, aged 51, took over the role of Prime Minister from Lee Hsien Loong, who was 72 and had served since 2004. Both leaders are affiliated with the ruling party that has been pivotal in Singapore’s economic success for over fifty years.
As India and Singapore prepare to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, they upgraded their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in September.
The Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule, described 2024 as a year full of significant happenings for India-Singapore relations.
He noted that the enhanced bilateral ties are expected to support India’s economic development in the forthcoming years.
During Modi’s visit, both nations announced plans to cooperate in the semiconductor sector, with India also seeking major investments from Singaporean businesses.
The second round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable in August marked an unprecedented convergence of ministers, with four senior ministers from India and six from Singapore examining opportunities in various new sectors.
“This 4+6 meeting was a first for both nations, with senior ministers identifying digitalisation, skills development, sustainability, healthcare and medicine, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity as key areas for furthering cooperation,” Ambule stated.
“Numerous other ministerial and official level visits from both countries throughout the year emphasized the significance of their bilateral relations,” he added.
During Modi’s visit, it was decided to establish a Cyber Policy Dialogue, and the inaugural discussion took place in Singapore in October.
Wong joined Modi to launch the Declaration on Digital Public Infrastructure, AI, and Data for Governance at the G20 Summit held in Brazil in November.
The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been instrumental in fortifying economic ties between India and Singapore in 2024, offering local companies market outreach and guidance on the Indian market, according to former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The chamber has actively participated in global investment summits, roadshows, and trade missions, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications.
The “India Fever” initiative by SICCI aimed to strengthen trade, investment, and diplomatic relations, resulting in six successful trade missions in the last 18 months, all led by its Internationalising sub-committee, according to its chairman Neil Parekh.
Key events in 2024 included the inaugural ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave, a digital health and medical technologies e-workshop, and a session focused on the green economy.
K Shanmugam, Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs and Law, attended the World Tamil Diaspora Day 2024 in Chennai in January, extending the invitation from the Tamil Nadu government. Tamil is one of Singapore’s four official languages, highlighting the close ties between the two nations.
The 31st edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) took place in India in October, with soldiers from both nations participating in the Agni Warrior military exercise. The 12th edition of Joint Military Training occurred in India from October 4 to December 16.
India also hosted the expanded 4th edition of the Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise in November.
Back at home, a Singapore court sentenced S Iswaran, a cabinet member for 13 years, to a year in prison for obstruction of justice and accepting over USD 300,000 in gifts, marking the city-state’s first political corruption trial in nearly fifty years. (PTI)
