Singapore PM holds bilateral talks with Indian ministers

Prime Ministrer Lawrence Wong on Thursday met visiting Indian ministers ahead of the fourth India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) and discussed ways to build on the progress made in bilateral ties, particularly in advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, sustainability and connectivity.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada are in the city-state to participate in the ministerial-level meeting. In a series of social media posts, Wong said it was a pleasure to catch up with Sitharaman, Jaishankar, Goyal and Prasada ahead of the ISMR, which began on Thursday.

The leaders discussed how Singapore and India can “build on the good progress made through ISMR” and take the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership further, especially in advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, sustainability and connectivity. Wong said the discussions also covered regional and global developments. 

“Singapore and India share a longstanding and increasingly close partnership. I wish the ministers a productive visit and fruitful discussions at the ISMR,” he said. According to a Singapore Government statement, the ISMR is an important ministerial-level platform for the two countries to drive cooperation in new and emerging areas.

The fourth ISMR will review the progress from the third ISMR, held in New Delhi in August 2025, and identify new opportunities to advance the implementation of the Singapore India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Roadmap, the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry said in a joint statement.

Sitharaman is leading the Indian delegation, while Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Gan Kim Yong is heading the Singapore delegation at the fourth roundtable.