PM Modi arrives in Singapore for two-day visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday to “deepen strategic partnership” with the Southeast Asian country at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong after wrapping his visit to Brunei.

During the two-day visit — his fifth official trip to Singapore — the PM will connect with three generations of Singapore's leadership, officials in New Delhi said.

The prime minister will receive an official welcome at the Parliament House on Thursday and call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

This visit comes days after Wong took over and Modi began his third term as prime minister.

Ahead of his departure, Modi had posted on X: “I look forward to my discussions to deepen our strategic partnership with Singapore, particularly in new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing, digitalisation and sustainable development.”

Modi, who last visited Singapore in 2018, is accompanied by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other government officials.

“The leaders will review the progress of the strategic partnership between India and Singapore and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” a Ministry of External Affairs statement said.

Modi would call on Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Wong and Lee will host Modi to separate meals.

Modi will also meet Singaporean business leaders and interact with those in the country's semiconductor ecosystem. This visit will build synergies in semiconductor ecosystems of Singapore and India. Both prime ministers will visit a semiconductor manufacturing facility, officials said. They said MoUs will be signed for cooperation in manpower skilling in the semiconductor sector.

From skilling centres to training and recruitment by Singapore firms, this will help India's youth with better skills and opportunities, officials added.