Modi Meets Singapore PM, Signs MoUs on Digital Tech & Health

The two nations signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering digital technologies, semiconductor cooperation, healthcare, and educational skills development.

India and Singapore have elevated their bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" following a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong on Thursday.

The two nations signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering digital technologies, semiconductor cooperation, healthcare, and educational skills development.

Among the agreements, the MoU on digital technologies aims to enhance collaboration in the tech sector, including advancements in semiconductor ecosystems.

An MoU was signed by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Singapore's Ministry of Health on cooperation in the field of health and medicine.

This agreement will facilitate joint efforts on research and innovation in areas of mutual interest and also promote closer cooperation in human resource development in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

Further, the MoU will also complement New Delhi's efforts to promote Indian healthcare professionals in Singapore.

Additionally, the bilateral discussions highlighted the expansion of trade and investment opportunities, particularly in advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies such as AI.

“The leaders agreed to elevate the ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They extensively reviewed various facets of the bilateral relationship covering areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalisation, Healthcare & Medicine, Skills Development and Sustainability,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X after the meeting.

According to PM Modi, the partnership between the two nations in skilling, digitalization, mobility, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI, healthcare, sustainability, and cyber security has become an identity of this mechanism.

“The discussions with my friend, PM Lawrence Wong continued today. Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations,” Modi said in a post on X after the talks.

The MoUs are set to bolster India’s Act East Policy and further deepen ties between the two countries.