India-Singapore: 60 Years of Diplomatic Ties

General Studies Paper -2

Context: Recently, India and Singapore celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations, marked by Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam first visit to India.

India-Singapore: Historical Ties

• Colonial Legacy: The diplomatic relationship between India and Singapore was established on August 24, 1965, shortly after Singapore gained independence.
  • The modern relationship between India and Singapore dates back to 1819, when Sir Stamford Raffles established a British trading post in Singapore.
• Role in Independence: Formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind from Singapore in 1943 by Subhash Chandra Bose during the Indian independence movement.
• Recognition of Independence: India was one of the first countries to recognize Singapore’s independence in 1965, setting the stage for a close and evolving relationship.
• Comprehensive Partnership: Over the decades, the relationship has evolved into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting the deepening economic, political, and cultural ties.

Key Areas of Co-operation: Significance of India-Singapore Relations

• Economy & Trade: Bilateral trade between the two countries grew significantly from USD 6.7 billion in FY 2004-05 to USD 35.6 billion in FY 2023-24.
• Singapore ranks as India’s 6th largest trade partner, accounting for 3.2% of India’s total trade.
• In FY 2023-24, India’s imports from Singapore were USD 21.2 billion (a 10.2% decrease from the previous year), while exports to Singapore reached USD 14.4 billion (a 20.2% increase from the previous year).
• FDI Inflows: FDI equity inflows in India from Singapore during 2023-24 stood at US$ 11.774 billion.
• Top sectors attracting FDI Equity inflows from Singapore are: Services Sector, Computer Software & Hardware, Trading, Telecommunications and Drugs & Pharmaceuticals.
• Fintech and Digital Economy: Acceptance of RuPay card and UPI-Paynow Linkage in Singapore.
• Singapore is the first nation with which India has begun this cross-border Person-to-Person (P2P) payment facility.
• Defense and Strategic Collaboration: It has deepened under the Defense Cooperation Agreement.
  • Bilateral Exercises: For all three services:
    • Exercise Agni Warrior and Bold Kurukshetra (Army);
    • Exercise SIMBEX (Navy).
• Maritime Security: Both nations work together to ensure freedom of navigation and counter-piracy in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Strategic Partnership: Singapore supports India’s Act East Policy, facilitating India’s engagement with regional cooperation and beyond.
• Science & Technology Cooperation: ISRO has launched several Singaporean satellites, Singapore’s first indigenous built micro-satellite in 2011, 2 more in 2014, 6 in 2015 and 9 in 2023.
• Singapore co-hosted the inaugural ASEAN – India Women Scientists Conclave (2024).
• Cyber Policy Dialogue (2024)
• e-workshop on digital health and medical technologies (2024)
• Education and Skill Development: Initiatives like the Skill India program benefit from Singapore’s expertise in vocational training.
• Indian and Singaporean institutions engage in joint research programs.
• Multilateral and Regional Cooperation:
• Singapore has joined the International Solar Alliance and Global Bio-fuel Alliance in 2023.
• Singapore supported the Indian initiative of the Declaration on Digital Public Infrastructure, AI and Data for Governance (at the G20 Summit in Brazil in 2024).
• Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA): It was the first such agreement to be signed by India with any country.
• Indo-Pacific Strategy: India and Singapore actively engage to maintain peace, stability, and connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Cultural Ties: Indian influence on Singapore is evident in its multicultural society, with a vibrant Indian diaspora constituting about 9% of the city-state’s population.
• Programs like Kalaa Utsavam and the presence of Little India in Singapore showcase strong cultural bonds.

Future Prospects

• As India and Singapore look to the future, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is set to deepen further.
• Both nations are committed to exploring new avenues of cooperation in areas such as digitalization, trade development, and cultural exchanges.
• The 60th anniversary celebrations have set the stage for a new era of collaboration and mutual growth.