New Delhi will host the third edition of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Tuesday. The high-level gathering seeks to broaden and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations, paving the way for new areas of collaboration.
The meeting comes amid speculation that Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong may visit India next month, according to media sources. India will be represented by key ministers, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Singapore’s delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong. He will be joined by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, and Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow.
India and Singapore elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the island nation last year. The ISMR, conceptualized by PM Modi, serves as a platform to define a forward-looking vision for cooperation in diverse sectors.
The inaugural roundtable was held in New Delhi in September 2022, followed by the second session in Singapore in August 2024. The third meeting is expected to identify fresh opportunities to advance collaboration in economic, technological, and security domains.
Earlier this year, Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam traveled to India for high-level talks. During his January visit, he met with EAM Jaishankar to discuss joint initiatives in semiconductors, industrial park development, workforce skills, digitalization, and trade promotion. President Tharman also engaged with Prime Minister Modi, with discussions centering on “futuristic sectors” to further strengthen cooperation.
With both nations sharing strong economic, defense, and cultural ties, the upcoming roundtable aims to translate political goodwill into actionable partnerships. Leaders are expected to focus on emerging opportunities in areas such as advanced manufacturing, green energy, digital innovation, and connectivity projects. The meeting’s outcomes could set the stage for more substantial agreements during the anticipated visit of Prime Minister Wong.
