Singapore is expected to sign a strategic partnership agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country next month, said Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan during the fourth India-Singapore joint ministerial committee meeting in India which was co chaired by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. The partnership will come with deliverables and concrete outcomes with focus on urban solutions, smart cities and knowledge and skill transfer.
The strategic partnership agreement will comprise expansion of cooperation in five main areas: Scaling up investment and trade; speeding up air and maritime connectivity; smart city development and urban rejuvenation; skills development and capacity building, and state focus on strengthening business and cultural links. Balakrishnan and Sushma Swaraj have agreed on the need to enhance economic cooperation, including expanding trade and investment between the countries. Besides, Balakrishnan said that there is the need to boost the connectivity between the two countries, mostly in the aviation sector.
Indian Prime Minister Modi is keenly seeking support from India's second largest source for FDI and 10th largest trading partner Singapore, in some of the areas including ports, smart cities, skill development, water and waste management.