India and Singapore are starting a new
chapter in bilateral ties and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to
open new areas of cooperation, including port management and river cleaning.
In
their 30-minute meeting yesterday, visiting Singapore foreign minister K.
Shanmugam and Modi discussed the possibility of working together in providing
low-cost housing and river cleaning.
They
also touched on celebrations to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties next year.
"We
have done many big things together. It is a continuation of a journey in which
many chapters have been written and this is another chapter," Shanmugam
told The Straits Times.
He also
conveyed a message from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Modi that ties
"should be made even stronger through a series of concrete steps",
according to the Indian Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Modi,
who took office last month, is no stranger to Singapore.
His
links with Singapore were forged during his three terms as chief minister of
western Gujarat state, which he turned into an economic powerhouse.
He
welcomed many delegations from Singapore and also visited the republic
He is
known to be inspired by senior minister Goh Chok Tong, who visited Gujarat in
2006. Goh is scheduled to visit India in September.
This
year, Singapore is a partner country in the Vibrant Gujarat convention, a
biennial investor summit.
Shanmugam,
who described his meeting with Mr Modi as "good", said he raised the
possibility of Singapore partnering India in urban renewal and "smart
cities" projects, and working together on skills upgrading schemes.
Modi,
whose pet project is cleaning up the heavily polluted Ganges - which Hindus
regard as their holiest river - asked for Singapore's help in river cleaning.
"The
Prime Minister also raised the feasibility of cooperation in river cleaning and
I said we are happy to share our experience, though of course the size and
scale of what we did in Singapore and what faces India is different," said
Shanmugam.
Officials
from both sides could meet to discuss the various proposals and see if these
could be firmed up in time for a meeting between their prime ministers later in
the year.
The two
sides are planning a year-long series of events to mark 50 years of diplomatic
ties.
"Both
prime ministers are keen that the occasion should be celebrated in a way that
further expands the canvas of the relationship," India's PMO said.
Nirmala
Ganapathy
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated
in Singapore since 1994.
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