New Delhi, March 8 – India and Singapore reaffirmed their strong diplomatic and strategic ties as they convened the 18th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Singapore on Friday. The discussions, led by Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India, and Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
According to an official statement from the MEA, both sides exchanged views on key regional and global issues, underscoring their shared commitment to deepening ties across multiple sectors.
Key Focus Areas of the Consultation
The discussions centered around six core pillars of cooperation, which were identified during the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable as critical for advancing bilateral relations. These include:
✔ Digitalization – Strengthening collaboration in fintech, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
✔ Skills Development – Enhancing capacity-building initiatives to foster a future-ready workforce.
✔ Sustainability – Expanding cooperation on climate change, green energy, and smart city projects.
✔ Healthcare & Medicine – Promoting pharmaceutical research, telemedicine, and healthcare innovation.
✔ Advanced Manufacturing – Boosting industrial partnerships and technology exchange.
✔ Connectivity – Enhancing transport and trade linkages for economic growth.
Additionally, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in defense, trade, investments, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, emphasizing the importance of these sectors in strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
A key highlight of the meeting was the discussion on the roadmap for implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024.
This year holds special significance as India and Singapore commemorate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The 18th FOC served as a timely platform to assess progress on recent high-level exchanges and set the agenda for enhanced cooperation in 2025.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to advancing their strategic partnership through greater economic collaboration, defense cooperation, and cultural exchanges.
Next Steps and Future Engagements
✔ Upcoming Foreign Office Consultations – India and Singapore have agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in India at a mutually convenient date.
✔ High-Level Engagements – During his visit, Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar met with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, as well as Beh Swan Gin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry.
✔ Engagement with Academia – Mazumdar also engaged with scholars and academics at an event hosted by the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.
The robust diplomatic engagement between India and Singapore underscores the strength of their bilateral ties, paving the way for deeper cooperation in critical sectors and reinforcing regional and global stability.
With the 60-year milestone marking a new phase in Indo-Singapore relations, both countries are poised to expand their collaboration and further solidify their strategic partnership in the years ahead.