Modi to court diaspora in Malaysia, Singapore

The menace of terrorism – especially in the wake of the Paris terror strike – and enhancing the level of economic cooperation will be high on the agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he addresses two powerful regional blocs at the Asean-India and East Asia summits during his three-day visit to Malaysia from November 21 to 23 after which he will make a day-long visit to Singapore on November 23-24 where India expects to establish a bilateral “strategic partnership” with Singapore.

The event will welcome around 3,000 delegates from all 10 ASEAN nations and dialogue partners such as Japan, China, India and the US.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Anil Wadhwa, secretary (East) in the ministry of external affairs, said Modi would reach Kuala Lumpur on November 21 to attend both the summits followed by a bilateral visit after which he will go to Singapore on a bilateral visit.

The South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula situation, radicalisation and terrorism will be the highlights of the 27th Asean Summit and Related Summits this weekend, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

Asean is now India’s fourth largest trading partner, with trade between India at Asean at $76.52 billion in 2014-15.

Modi will be participating in ASEAN and East Asia Summit meetings in Kuala Lumpur. Modi will unveil a statue of Swami Vivekananda and gift a bust of Mahatma Gandhi to be installed in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya.

In Kuala Lumpur, the PM will hold bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

“Singapore has emerged as the second-largest source of FDI into India at about United States dollars 35.9 billion (total for April 2000 to June 2015), which is about 13.9 per cent of total FDI into India”, Wadhwa said, while adding that Indian investments into Singapore are also fairly large at USD 37 billion.

“In addition, the Asia Pacific Leaders’ Malaria Elimination Roadmap to eradicate Malaria by 2030 is also expected to be endorsed”, Wadhwa said. India-Malaysia bilateral trade is $14 billion. China and the sixteen countries will discuss how to further promote cooperation and development in the next five years. Singapore has already agreed to set up a skilling centre in ITI in Udaipur and would set up another skill centre in the north-east. He will also address the Indian community.

Singapore’s Prime Minister is also expected to be present at the Lecture where the audience would be largely policymakers, think-tanks, academics and diplomatic community.

He also said the Indian community events were planned in Singapore and Malaysia as well. Indian investments in Singapore are to the tune of $37 billion.