Prime Minister (PM) of Singapore Lawrence Wong was on a three-day official visit from September 2 to 4, 2025. He visited India for the first time, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India.
- On September 2, 2025, he arrived in India, along with senior ministers, including Vivian Balakrishnan, Jeffrey Siow, and Gan Siow Huang at the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi.
Exam Hints:
- What? Visit of Singapore PM Lawrence Wong to India
- When? September 2–4, 2025
- Significance: Marks the 60th anniversary of India–Singapore diplomatic relations
- Outcomes: Adoption of CSP; MoUs Signed (5); Inauguration of PSA Mumbai Phase 2
Highlights of Singapore PM Lawrence Wong’s Visit to India:
Meeting : On September 3, 2025, Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong, held bilateral discussions with PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi(Delhi), focusing on trade, digitalization, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, skills, and urban development.
- He also met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, where they discussed strengthening people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges, and cooperation in education and tourism.
Outcome of the visit:
Adoption of CSP:
Pillars: PM Narendra Modi and Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong adopted the “Roadmap for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP)”, to enhance the strategic cooperation between India and Singapore
- The roadmap for CSP lays emphasis on eight pillars such as Economic Cooperation, Skill Development & Education, Digitalization and Innovation, Sustainability, Connectivity, Healthcare & Medicine, People-to-People & Cultural Exchange, and Defence & Security, to deepen bilateral relations.
Economic Cooperation: India and Singapore will hold the third review of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and take part in the review of Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN)-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) in 2025.
- India and Singapore will strengthen collaboration through the India-Singapore Semiconductor Policy Dialogue, enhance cooperation in industrial parks and capital market connectivity, and promote business partnerships via the India-Singapore Business Roundtable (ISBR).
Skill Development & Education: The roadmap lays the vision to set up a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) for advanced manufacturing to boost industry connection.
- India and Singapore will promote Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills development through a Joint Working Group (JWG), and support state-level initiatives like the Singapore–Assam Nursing Talent Skills Cooperation.
Digitalization & Innovation: To strengthen India-Singapore cooperation in Fintech JWG, JWG on GIFT City-Singapore cooperation, and Digital Technologies.
- India and Singapore will collaborate on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by sharing best practices and expanding paperless, secure cross-border payments through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)–PayNow linkage.
Sustainability: To enhance collaboration on green hydrogen and ammonia, urban water management, and food security cooperation. It also aims to develop a framework under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, and partner in initiatives such as International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA).
Connectivity: The roadmap envisions to create an India-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor(GDSC), strengthen collaboration in aviation and aerospace Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO), partner on airport development and management, promote Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and explore the expansion of Air Services Agreement to meet the rising travel demand.
Healthcare: To strengthen collaboration in healthcare under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), covering digital health, disease surveillance, maternal and child health, nutrition, medical products access, research and tackling diseases.
- It also aims to hold regular meetings of the JWG on health cooperation, strengthen nursing skills development, and support R&D projects in digital health and medical technologies.
Cultural Exchanges: To strengthen ties through maritime heritage, cultural exchanges, and exhibitions. The roadmap lays emphasis to promote parliamentary and public service exchanges, student exchanges and internships, and encourage links between think tanks, academia, and Research and Development(R&D) institutions.
Defence & Security: The roadmap aims to maintain regular defence dialogues, continue joint military exercises, expand defence technology cooperation in quantum AI, automation and unmanned systems.
- India and Singapore will enhance maritime security and regional cooperation under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) Outlook and Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative, strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness and legal cooperation, combat terrorism per United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1267 and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines, and support India’s role in the Malacca Straits Patrol (SOMS).
India and Singapore signs 5 MoUs:
Governments of India(GoI) and Governments of Singapore inked 5 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) covering civil aviation, space, skills development, digital asset innovation, and a green and digital shipping corridor, following talks between PM Narendra Modi and Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong.
Green and Digital Shipping Corridor: MoU signed between India and Singapore to promote cooperation in establishing a sustainable and technology-driven shipping corridor.
Space Sector Collaboration: MoU between Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) & Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTIn) and India’s National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), under the Department of Space (DOS) to enhance cooperation in space research, satellite launches, and technology development.
Skills Development in Advanced Manufacturing: MoU between Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) for establishing a National Centre of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Chennai.
Digital Asset Innovation: MoU between the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to foster collaboration in fintech, digital banking, and emerging digital asset technologies.
Civil Aviation Cooperation: MoU between the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on training, research, and development in the civil aviation sector.
Inauguration of Phase 2 of PSA Mumbai:
Inauguration: On September 4, 2025, PM Narendra Modi and Singapore PM Lawrence Wong virtually inaugurated the 2nd phase of the Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal (BMCT) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Capacity Enhancement: This expansion, developed under a Public-Private Partnership(PPP) model with an investment of SGD 1.7 billion (USD 1.3 billion), doubles the terminal’s annual handling capacity to 4.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). With the inauguration of its Phase 2 expansion, PSA Mumbai is poised to become India’s largest container terminal.
Top Port Hub: This development positions Maharashtra as the state with the highest port capacity in India, surpassing Gujarat’s 8.2 million TEUs.
Tribute at Raj Ghat:
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong visited Raj Ghat in New Delhi to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi, honoring his legacy of peace and non-violence.
Engagement with Business Leaders:
He participated in a roundtable with Indian business leaders, discussing opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investment between India and Singapore.
About Singapore:
Prime Minister (PM) – Lawrence Wong
Capital – Singapore
Currency – Singapore Dollar(SGD)
