What happened?
India and Singapore held the 18th round of Foreign Office Consultations on March 7, 2025, in Singapore. The Indian delegation was led by Jaideep Muzumdar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Singaporean side was headed by Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions covered the six pillars of cooperation—Digitalization, Skills Development, Sustainability, Healthcare & Medicine, Advanced Manufacturing, and Connectivity—identified during the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable. Other key areas of discussion included defence, trade, investments, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides reviewed progress on implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore in September 2024.
Why it matters to India
India and Singapore share a strong strategic partnership, and this consultation served as an important platform to strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. As both countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, this meeting was timely in setting the roadmap for future engagements and high-level exchanges. The commitment to deepening economic and strategic ties enhances India’s presence in Southeast Asia, reinforcing its Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of consultations in India at a mutually convenient time, further solidifying diplomatic engagement.