India, Singapore to Strengthen Cooperation in Healthcare, Technology & Other Key Sectors

On Wednesday, India and Singapore held the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in New Delhi, a high-level platform aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. The meeting took place ahead of a potential visit by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong next month. During the roundtable, the two sides finalised around ten agreements covering a broad range of areas, including connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development, and advanced technology, according to an official statement.

The Indian side was represented by four key ministers — External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Singaporean delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and included National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, and Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow.

A significant discussion point at the 3rd ISMR was an ambitious proposal to lay an undersea cable linking India and Singapore. This cable would have a dual purpose — transmitting solar energy generated in India to Singapore, and providing high-speed data connectivity between the two nations. The proposal reflects both countries’ interests in sustainable energy and advanced digital infrastructure.

Describing the talks as “productive”, Jaishankar said the ISMR had a valuable engagement with the India-Singapore Business Roundtable (ISBR) delegation, emphasising that strong synergy between government and industry is vital to unlocking the next phase of India-Singapore relations.

An official statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) outlined that the two sides reviewed progress under ISMR’s six core pillars:

1. Advanced manufacturing

2. Connectivity

3. Digitalisation

4. Healthcare and medicine

5. Skills development

6. Sustainability

The ministers discussed concrete ways to deepen collaboration under these pillars and identified specific initiatives to pursue in the near future. This indicates a shift from broad policy dialogue to more targeted, project-based cooperation.

India reiterated that it views Singapore as an important partner in its “Act East” policy, which aims to strengthen ties with ASEAN and other Asia-Pacific nations. The first ISMR was held in New Delhi in September 2022, while the second took place in Singapore in August 2024, showing a pattern of annual engagement alternating between the two countries.

The MEA noted that the productive discussions at the 3rd ISMR highlighted the mutual commitment of both nations to further reinforce their comprehensive strategic partnership. The talks showcased alignment on priorities such as economic growth, sustainable development, and technological advancement.

Following the roundtable, the Singaporean ministers met with President Droupadi Murmu. During this meeting, the MEA said, the President observed that even amid global uncertainties, the India-Singapore partnership continues to flourish. She welcomed the ongoing cooperation and expressed confidence that the new agreements and initiatives will strengthen bilateral ties further.

In summary, the 3rd ISMR not only consolidated existing areas of cooperation but also introduced new forward-looking projects — most notably, the India-Singapore undersea cable proposal — positioning the relationship as a model of regional collaboration in technology, sustainability, and economic development.