India, Singapore sign pacts on telecom, food security; discuss SMRs, chips

India and Singapore finalized agreements on Thursday to collaborate in telecommunications and food security, as well as discussions on advancing cooperation in small modular reactors (SMRs), semiconductors, space, and cybersecurity. The fourth meeting of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) took place in Singapore, focusing on areas such as advanced manufacturing, digitalization, skill development, healthcare and medicine, connectivity, and sustainability.

The ministers witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India's Food Safety and Standards Authority and Singapore's Food Agency for enhanced food safety cooperation, and a letter of intent (LoI) between India's Telecom Regulatory Authority and Singapore's Info-Communications Media Development Authority for telecom and broadcasting collaboration.

Another MoU will facilitate maritime heritage cooperation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, part of the Indian delegation, described the meeting as "very productive" and highlighted the exploration of deeper ties in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, connectivity, digital, fintech, skilling, green economy, and clean energy domains.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong discussed cooperation in nuclear technology, including SMRs, and expressed interest in sharing knowledge about the technology. Singaporean companies have invested in India and are exploring the possibility of creating an ecosystem in India, with Gan stating that they discussed ways to make the relocation or entry of Singaporean SMEs smoother in India.

Singapore aims to upgrade skills and train the Indian workforce to support semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries, with potential training centers to be established in areas where these companies invest. The two sides also discussed collaboration in cybersecurity, a crucial aspect of digital infrastructure. In the field of connectivity, the two countries discussed the bilateral air services agreement and the need for increased air traffic.

The ISMR members also interacted with participants of the India-Singapore Business Roundtable and met Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to discuss the progress in bilateral relations. The ISMR, a special mechanism created in 2022, meets annually to strengthen collaboration in crucial sectors, with the next meeting set to alternate between Singapore and India.