A new chapter is going to be written in the annals of India-Singapore bilateral relations as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore starts from May 31. The major highlights of his visit include a summit meeting with Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and delivering the keynote address at the Shangri La Dialogue.
He will land in Singapore on May 31 following a visit to Indonesia starting tomorrow.
The forthcoming visit is expected to highlight and strengthen all the pillars of India-Singapore ties, including political, defence and strategic; economic; technology and innovation; and, cultural and human ties.
The visit can potentially produce a number of significant outcomes in the areas of defence and security, trade, investments, infrastructure, innovation, fintech, skills development, higher education and space.
PM Modi’s itinerary
May 31
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his visit with a technology, business and community event on May 31 at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. He will start with a tour of an exhibition of 30 innovation and startup firms from India and Singapore and interact with a group of enablers and innovators.
This exhibition is part of the day-long startup event – InSpreneur 2.0 – with over 500 participants focusing on frontier technologies of artificial intelligence, blockchain, data analytics, machine learning, fintech and cyber security along with innovation for social impact in areas of water, sanitation, health, education, smart cities and energy.
After that, Modi will give an address focused on business, Indian reforms and India-Singapore relations to an audience of about 4,500 people. He will also witness agreements and launches of initiatives.
He will conclude the evening with a closed-door round table with about 25 top CEOs of Singapore.
June 1
On June 1, the official engagements will begin with the Guard of Honour that Indian PM Modi will receive followed by bilateral talks with his Singaporean counterpart PM Lee Hsien Loong. There are likely to be agreements in the area of defence, skill development, public administration.
He will also participate at an interaction with president and board members of the Nanyang Technological University from 3 to 5 pm. The subject of interaction will be ‘Transforming Asia through Innovation’. After that, he will witness signing of several agreements on scientific and academic collaboration.
However, the major highlight of PM Modi’s visit will be his speech at the Shangri La Dialogue. He will enunciate India’s vision for peace and stability and India’s role and relationships in the Indo-Pacific Region. He is the first Prime Minister to be invited to deliver the keynote address in this prestigious forum.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Singapore in the field of Personnel Management and Public Administration will also be signed, the proposal for which was approved by the Indian Cabinet last Wednesday.
June 2
Tributes will be paid to the Mahatma Gandhi on June 2 as PM Modi will unveil a plaque commemorating the Father of the Indian Nation at Clifford Pier, Hotel Fullerton, at 10 am in remembrance of the immersion of Gandhi’s ashes from the pier on March 28, 1948.
PM Modi will then visit three temples on South Bridge Road between 11 am and 12 pm to highlight the old links between India and Singapore and celebrate Singapore’s diversity. These temples were built by early Indian settlers in Singapore as community projects over a century ago and now regarded as national monuments.
After that, he will visit the Indian Heritage Centre in Little India to inaugurate a permanent platform for Indian craftspersons who visit Singapore for short durations to demonstrate their craft.
PM Modi will then go to meet officers and sailors of an Indian naval ship on a visit to Changi Naval Base.
