PM Modi leaves for India

In wide-ranging discussions with Singapore leaders, including its Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan Keng, Modi stressed on the idea to “create many Singapores” within India.

These were signed in the presence of Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, after which both countries also unveiled commemorative stamps to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Amid a stand-off between China and some East Asian nations over the South China Sea, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the oceans, space and cyber world should not become “new theatres of contests” but be the avenues of “shared prosperity” and offered to work in this direction.

Meanwhile, Modi said he values the relationship with Malaysia and invites more investments from this country to India.

Malaysia and India agreed on Cultural Exchange Programme between 2015 and 2020, while the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team Department of Electronics and IT and CyberSecurity Malaysia inked a cooperation in the area of cyber security. This is a decision prime minister (Lee) and I did not take lightly.

Modi also promised a greater role for Singapore in India’s growth story and said the city-state will be a major trading partner for India.

The Ministry of Federal Territories, in a statement today said the Indian government absorbed the entire cost of the Gate’s construction. In addition, new frontiers and deeper foundations for financial markets have been laid. I also come to ensure you that I’m there to carefully hold your hands.

Noting that Malaysian competence in infrastructure is well known and that Malaysia has completed several important projects, including in the road sector, in India, Modi said he wanted to see enhanced Malaysian participation in areas such as expansion and upgrading of infrastructure, Make in India, and Smart Cities projects.

Talking about his “Swachh Bharat” or Clean India campaign, Modi said it was aimed at transforming the way Indians think, live and work.

The Indian Prime Minister flew reached Singapore after his trip to Malaysia in the second and final leg of his four-day visit to southeast Asia.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), S Iswaran, noted that over the past 10 years, Singapore’s total trade with India has doubled from S$11.8 billion to S$24.6 billion, while its investments in India have grown almost 20-fold from S$653 million to S$12.1 billion.

The Indian PM said that India’s entry into the uranium supply arrangement was a sign of growing trust.