Modi invites Singapore CEOs to India

Mr Gurdip Singh,  fii-news.com

 Photo:  Mr Modi meeting the President of Singapore, Ms Halimah Yacob, in Singapore on June 01, 2018

India and Singapore will soon start reviewing the civil aviation agreement between the two countries to further boost links, given the potential of strong growth in air services, it was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 31 May-2 June visit to the city state.

This was part of the agreements reached by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during the bilateral talks held in Singapore on 1 June 2018.

“Within our own country, we have a new civil aviation policy and the domestic civil aviation sector is going to come up in a big way,” said Preeti Saran, Secretary (EAST) at Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters during briefing on Modi’s three-day visit to Singapore.

“We are interested in holding an early review on the civil aviation agreement,” she said, adding that dates would be worked out on return to New Delhi.

The fact that this civil aviation sector is likely to grow much more there is a need to do that, she stressed.

She acknowledged that Singapore had been calling for a review.

There are nearly 500 weekly flights between Singapore and 16 different destinations in India.

There were also talks of collaboration between India and Singapore in startups sector, technology and innovation.

Prime Minister Modi had suggested that India and Singapore host a hackathon for young startups and innovators and let them come up with solutions.

This was welcomed by Prime Minister Lee.

The talks also covered strategic security, economic and human as well as cultural links.

One big achievement was the completion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with Singapore, she said.

Modi also informed Lee of data policy of India which is to be launched soon and in which India would certainly have a discussions and interactions using Singapore experiences to be factored in.

Skill development was another ongoing strong relation between India and Singapore.

Singapore has helped set up skill development centres in Delhi, Guwahati and Udaipur with focus on tourism.

They have also trained Indian civil servants and contributed to human resource development.

Both Prime Ministers also discussed the need for early conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) stressing that it be fair, comprehensive and balanced.

On 31 May 2018, the Prime Minister had a free and frank discussions with 30 CEOs and senior business executives from Singapore.

The CEOs appreciated the reforms taken by Modi government which has made a mark difference in the ease of doing business.

The Prime Minister invited the CEOs, especially in Agri and Agro processing, supply chain and water management, according to Saran.

Modi assured them that of plans to strengthen the digital India and invited companies to invest in soon to be launched data centre.

“We are looking at newer areas of collaborations we are moving away from the traditional to the more innovative. To grow, to develop you must innovate,” Saran said of India’s move towards technology.

She pointed out that new technology and startup companies must come up with cheaper and affordable technology. That is something of interest to India and Singapore companies will benefit, given the scale of operation that they will have in a country like India.

“There are opportunities following the reforms. India is a big market for technology and we look towards Singapore as an important partner,” she said.