Third Ministerial Roundtable charts new partnerships in semiconductors, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.
India and Singapore have agreed to deepen collaboration in digitalisation, skills training, green energy, and advanced manufacturing following high-level talks at the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in New Delhi on August 13.
Expanding Strategic Cooperation
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong led a six-member Singapore delegation that met with senior Indian ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Discussions covered the six pillars of ISMR: advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development, and sustainability.
New Opportunities in Semiconductors and Data Connectivity
A key area of focus was semiconductor cooperation. India’s rapid expansion in chip manufacturing — with six plants under construction — presents opportunities for Singaporean companies. The two nations also explored collaboration on cross-border data flows using regulatory sandboxes, and an ambitious proposal to lay an undersea cable to transmit solar energy from India to Singapore while providing data connectivity.
Green Energy and Shipping Corridor Plans
Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries is working with the Odisha government on a green hydrogen manufacturing facility in Paradeep. Both sides are studying a green shipping corridor to transport green fuels from Odisha to Singapore, covering about 1,900 nautical miles.
Building Skills for the Future
With more than 65% of India’s population under 35, skills development remains a key priority. Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education Services has helped establish five skills centres in India, including a major facility in Odisha that can train 3,000 students annually in areas such as mechatronics and vertical transport.
Strengthening Business Links
The India-Singapore Business Roundtable (ISBR), held alongside the ministerial talks, brought together leaders from Blackstone Singapore, Temasek Holdings, and other firms to discuss investment opportunities in industrial parks, fintech, and infrastructure financing. SICCI chairman Neil Parekh said the discussions align closely with business community priorities in both nations.
A Milestone Year in Bilateral Ties
This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. President Droupadi Murmu met the Singapore delegation and welcomed President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s invitation for a state visit. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is scheduled to visit India in early September.
The third ISMR showcased the growing breadth of India-Singapore cooperation, from semiconductors to green hydrogen, and from skills development to cross-border data connectivity. As both nations navigate global economic uncertainty, these deepening ties are set to drive innovation, strengthen supply chains, and open new avenues for sustainable growth.
Sources: The Business Times (2025) , The Indian Express (2025)
Keywords: India Singapore Relations, Ministerial Roundtable, Digital Cooperation, Skills Training, Green Energy, Semiconductor Partnership
