From January 15 to 18, 2025, Singapore’s president, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, is expected to travel to India. This is the first time a Singaporean president has visited India in ten years, and it also marks the 60th anniversary of Singapore and India’s diplomatic ties.
The purpose of the visit is to strengthen collaboration in non-traditional fields, specifically in skill development, urban planning, and green energy. Two skill development agreements, one of which focuses on semiconductor training in Odisha, are probably going to be signed as part of the discussions.
President Shanmugaratnam will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian President Droupadi Murmu at high levels while he is there. He is also anticipated to interact with a number of other ministers, such as those in charge of commerce, health, and finance.
A trip to Odisha, where Singapore has been named the partner nation for the Utkarsh Odisha Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, which is set for January 28–29, is a major component of the visit. This shows a dedication to fortifying commercial alliances and investigating prospects across multiple industries.
The visit highlights how India and Singapore’s relationship is changing, especially since both nations upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2024. The focus of this partnership is cooperation in the areas of economics, technology, and geopolitics. Singapore is India’s biggest ASEAN trading partner.
It is anticipated that President Shanmugaratnam’s visit will open the door to closer bilateral relations and the exploration of fresh opportunities for collaboration that complement the strategic objectives of both countries.
