India has tremendous social strengths, including pluralism: PM

Ministry of External Affairs secretary Anil Wadhwa, who is the foreign ministry in-charge of Malaysia and Singapore, feels that strong statement can be expected on the issue of terrorism when state leaders meet for the East Asia summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (front C) shakes hands with a performer while Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha talk to others in a backstage area during a welcome rally for Modi at Wembley Stadium in London November 13, 2015.

“Build responsive, inclusive and collective solutions… this will be the theme when India assumes presidency of BRICS”, Modi said.

“India is on the threshold of a big IT revolution”, noted PM Modi. Singapore, as a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and as negotiator of the China-led pan-Asian Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, can help India expand into Asia, according to Girija Pande, Executive Chairman of Apex Avalon.

They are expecting 15000 members to attend the function at the Malaysia global exhibition and convention centre (MIECC), Jalan Dulang, MINES Resort City, Seri Kembangan.

The daily said that as over 800 protesting Indians greeted Modi at Downing Street, the British prime minister ended up serving as the Indian prime minister’s first line of defence.

How has India benefited thus far from closer ties with Singapore? Singapore is now India’s largest foreign direct investor, and its 10th largest trading partner, and both militaries train together regularly.

“We stand united in strongly condemning the terrible acts of terror”, Modi said two days after Islamic State terrorists massacred almost 130 people in the French capital.

During Prime Minister Modi’s go to, India and Australia finalised their nuclear deal, which can make it attainable for New Delhi to supply uranium from Canberra. “Singapore’s success is indeed noteworthy and their achievements in urban development, urban transport, waste management, development of ports and skill development are well known”, he added.

The bilateral trade with Singapore is about Dollars 17 billion and Singaporean companies are very active in India since early 1990s, including in equity markets.

Asked about the CEOs he will be meeting in Singapore, Wadhwa said the list is still a work in progress. Of Singapore’s 5.5 million population, 350,000 are of Indian origin.

Modi reiterated that India has targeted additional 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022 besides cutting subsidies on fossil fuel, even as it has imposed a carbon cess on the use of coal.

In Dubai and in San Jose, to mention two recent examples, registration for Modi’s Indian community meetings exceeded the capacity of the venues three weeks to a month before they were to take place.