What happened?
On January 15, 2025, Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will begin an important visit to India, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During the visit, from January 14 to 18, India and Singapore are expected to sign two skill development agreements. This will be Shanmugaratnam’s first state visit to India and the first by any Singaporean president in the last decade.
Why it matters to India
In 2024, India and Singapore elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), highlighting their increasing alignment in economic, technological, and geopolitical matters. Singapore is one of India’s key trading partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with bilateral trade reaching USD 35.61 billion in FY 2023-24.