India - Singapore Joint Statement

Why in News?

Recently, India and Singapore have signed 5 key agreements to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) – 5 MoUs signed between India and Singapore, which include
  • Co-operation on a green and digital shipping corridor
  • Collaborations in the space sector
  • Training, Research and Development in the field of Civil Aviation
  • Digital asset innovation
  • Setting up of a national centre of excellence for skilling in advanced manufacturing in Chennai.

• Co-operation on a green and digital shipping corridor – It focused on infrastructure and technologies to enable uptake of zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels.
• It includes regulatory standards and collaboration on digital solutions and smart port technologies to optimise maritime operations.
• Collaboration in Space Sector – It promotes collaboration between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the Office for Space Technology & Industry, Singapore.
• Cooperation in space policy and law, and joint R&D in areas like Earth observation and satellite communication.
• Civil aviation – MoU between the Airports Authority of India and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore for training, research and development.
• It enhances cooperation on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) towards promoting cleaner and sustainable energy solutions in the aviation sector.
• Digital asset innovation – MoU between the Reserve Bank of India and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, focusing on developing efficient digital financial channels to support cross-border financial flows.
• It strengthens cooperation between stakeholders on both sides on cyber policies, CERT-CERT information exchange, cyber security capacity building and cybersecurity-related issues.
• Skill Development – The agreement to set up a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Advanced Manufacturing in Chennai highlights a focus on vocational and technical education, crucial for India's ambition to become a manufacturing hub.
• Defence Co-operation – Regular meetings between the two Defence Ministers through the Defence Policy Dialogue.
• Defence Technology – It collaborates in Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Unmanned Vessels.
• Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative – Cooperate on maritime security and submarine rescue under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
• Work closely with regional frameworks like the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
• Singapore acknowledged India’s plans to patrol the strategically important Malacca Strait.
• Cross-border terrorism – It will strengthen cooperation to fight against terrorism and terror organisations, proscribed by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee and to combat terror financing through platforms like the FATF.

References

1. The Hindu| India’s plan to patrol Malacca Strait
2. PM India| India - Singapore Joint Statement

Related News – India-Singapore Bilateral Relation