Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India was on a 3-day visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore from 3rd September to 5th September 2024. He started the 1st leg of his visit with Brunei from 3rd September to 4th September 2024 at the invitation of Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
- This marks PM Modi’s 1st visit as well as 1st-ever bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Brunei Darussalam. This visit of PM Modi to Brunei also coincided with the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between two countries..
- PM Modi concluded his two-nation visit by visiting Singapore from 4th September to 5th September 2024 at the invitation of Lawrence Wong, PM of Singapore.
- During his visit to Singapore, PM Modi called on Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore and interacted with Singapore’s business leaders from diverse sectors .
Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Brunei:
On 3rd September 2024, PM Narendra Modi arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and warmly received by his Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and senior minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of Brunei.
PM inaugurated the new Chancery Complex of the High Commission of India in Brunei
On 3rd September 2024, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new chancery premises of the Indian High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. He described it as indicative of stronger ties between the two nations.
- The new chancery complex signifies a profound sense of Indianness, masterfully integrating traditional motifs and lush green plantations.
- The use of beautiful claddings and durable Kota stones further enhances its aesthetic appeal, harmoniously blending classic and contemporary elements.
Bilateral Meeting between PM Modi and Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
On 4th September 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.
- They held discussions for enhancing cooperation on wide range of areas including defence, connectivity, trade and investment, energy (including renewables), space, health and pharmaceuticals, education and capacity building, culture, tourism, youth and people-to-people exchanges as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Note: The Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the world’s largest palace and has its name registered in Guinness World Records.
Key Announcements:
i.Leaders of both countries witnessed the signing and exchange of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the operation of Telemetry, Tracking and Telecommand (TTC)Station for Satellite and Launch Vehicles.
- The MoU was signed by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India and Pengiran Dato Shamhary Pengiran Dato Mustapha, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei.
ii.Leader of both countries welcomed the upcoming commencement of direct flight connectivity between Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam and Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), India. This will boost stronger people-to-people linkages and provide increased trade and tourism activities between the two nations.
iii.Both leaders agreed to bolster cooperation at various regional and multilateral forums, such as: Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Dialogue Relations, East Asia Summit (EAS), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM),and the United Nations (UN), among others.
iv.Both the leaders agreed to form a Joint Working Group(JWG) to enhance defense ties between India and Brunei.
v.Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah appreciated the training and scholarship offers by India for nationals of Brunei under the various programmes including Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and e-ITEC programmes.
vi.PM Modi welcomed Brunei Darussalam’s continued participation in India-led Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS) initiative which aims to bring countries of Global South together under a common platform to share their perspectives and priorities across various range of issues.
Significance of Brunei-India Bilateral Relations:
i.Brunei is an important partner in ‘Act East Policy’ of India and its vision of Indo-Pacific. This visit will further bolster India’s cooperation with Brunei in all existing sectors including defence cooperation, trade and investment, energy, space technology, health cooperation, among others.
ii.The 1st phase of Indians arriving in Brunei commenced with the discovery of oil in the 1920s. At present, nearly 14,000 Indians are residing in Brunei.
Highlights of PM Modi to Singapore:
On 4th September 2024, PM Narendra Modi arrived at Changi airport in Singapore, where he was received by K. Shanmugham, Minister of Home Affairs and Law , Singapore. PM visit to Singapore aims to strengthen strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian country.
- This marks PM Modi’s 5th official trip to Singapore and has interacted with three generations of Singapore’s leadership.
- During his visit to Singapore, he was accompanied by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar; National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other senior government officials from India.
- PM Narendra Modi announced that India’s first Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre would soon open in Singapore.
India and Singapore Signed 4 MoUs:
On 5th September 2024, India and Singapore signed 4 key agreements on semiconductors, digital technology, health care and skill development during PM Modi’s two-day visit to Singapore.
Details of MoUs:
i.Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY), Governemnet of India(GoI) and Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore signed the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) on the India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership.
- Under this agreement, India and Singapore will cooperate in the areas of semiconductor cluster developed, cultivation of talent in semiconductor design and manufacturing.
- It will promote cooperation to support India’s growing semiconductor industry and facilitate the entry of Singaporean companies and supply chains to India.
ii.The MoU was signed between Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY), GoI and Ministry of Digital Development and Information,Singapore for cooperation in the field of digital technologies.
- The MoU has classified main areas of cooperation which are data flows, and data protection, digital utilities and digital public infrastructure, cyber security and business-to-business linkages.
- The agreement will facilitate closer cooperation between India and Singapore in the areas of digital technologies, such as cyber-security, 5G(Generation) and emerging technologies such as Super-computing(SC), Quantum Computing(QC) and Artificial Intelligence(AI).
iii.The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE),GoI and Ministry of Education, Singapore signed an agreement on educational cooperation and skills development.
- The objective of the agreement is to promote closer cooperation in the areas of technical and vocational education and training.
iv.Another MoU was signed between Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHF&W) and Ministry of Health,Singapore on cooperation in the field of health and medicine. This agreement will facilitate joint efforts on research and innovation in areas of mutual interest.
- The aim of the MoU is to promote closer cooperation in the areas of human resource development in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
About Brunei Darussalam:
Capital- Bandar Seri Begawan
Prime Minister (PM)- Hassanal Bolkiah
Currency- Brunei Dollar (BND)
About Singapore:
Capital- Singapore
Prime Minister (PM)- Lawrence Wong
Currency- Singapore Dollar (SGD)
