Why in news? The Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited India officially from September 2 to September 4, 2025. This visit marked his first to India since taking office and coincided with the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations.
The roadmap articulates cooperation in eight critical areas:
Economic cooperation
Skills development (including collaboration on India's National Centre of Excellence for Skills in Chennai)
Digitalization
Sustainability and green economy (including green shipping)
Connectivity (maritime, air, digital)
Healthcare and medicine
People-to-people and cultural exchanges
Defence and security cooperation
Key Highlights and Outcomes
The leaders elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which was announced last year during PM Modi’s visit to Singapore, and now they set a detailed roadmap to advance this partnership.
Both sides agreed to undertake a time-bound review of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to further accelerate bilateral trade.
Singapore continues to be India's largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with cumulative FDI from Singapore to India nearing $170 billion as of FY 2024-25.
Expansion of cooperation in emerging areas such as semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, space technology, skill development, urban water management, and civil nuclear energy.
Singapore pledged support for India's semiconductor ecosystem and skill development, including collaborating on state-level skill centers focused on industries like aviation maintenance and semiconductors.
The two Prime Ministers emphasized people-to-people ties as a foundation for the relationship and discussed further promoting exchanges in education and civil service cooperation.
Both leaders also exchanged views on global issues, promoting multilateralism, ASEAN-India relations, economic integration, and a rules-based international order.
Statements
PM Modi described the partnership as one with "purpose," rooted in shared values and mutual interest, aiming for peace, progress, and prosperity.
PM Wong highlighted the substantial progress made in the bilateral relationship, emphasizing that it is built on concrete cooperation with momentum in new sectors, not just rhetoric.
The relationship was characterized as future-oriented, robust, and expanding beyond traditional sectors.
This high-level visit and the roadmap aim to deepen ties between India and Singapore, reinforcing their strategic, economic, and people-centric partnership in a complex global environment.Download Pdf