Indo-Singaporean relations

Indo-Singaporean relations

The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Singapore have been traditionally strong, with both nations enjoying extensive cultural and commercial relations. In recent years, India and Singapore have signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to increase trade, investments and economic cooperation and expanded bilateral cooperation on maritime security, training forces, conducting joint exercises, developing military technology and fighting terrorism.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=India, Singapore ink pact |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG02Df03.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-06-18]

Background

India and Singapore share long-standing cultural, commercial and strategic relations, with Singapore being a part of the "Greater India" cultural and commercial region. More than 300,000 people of Indian origin live in Singapore. Following its independence in 1965, Singapore was concerned with China-backed communist threats as well as domination from Malaysia and Indonesia and sought a close strategic relationship with India, which it saw as a counter-balance to Chinese influence and a partner in achieving regional security.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] Singapore had always been an important strategic trading post, giving India trade access to the Malay archipelago and the Far East. Although the rival positions of both nations over the Vietnam War and the Cold War caused consternation between India and Singapore, their relationship expanded significantly in the 1990s;cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] Singapore was one of the first to respond to India's "Look East" Policy of expanding its economic, cultural and strategic ties in Southeast Asia to strengthen its standing as a regional power.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18]

Development of bilateral relations

Ever since Singapore's independence, both nations have maintained high-level contacts. Between 1966 and 1971 the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew visited India three times (1966, 1970 and 1971). The then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Singapore in 1968, as did Indian leader Morarji Desai.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] Singapore supported India's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and expand its role and influence in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Singapore also supported India in its war against Pakistan in 1965 and the Kashmir conflict.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18]

Military cooperation between the two nations had been hampered by their policy differences in the Cold War era.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] In 2003, India and Singapore signed a bilateral agreement on expanding military cooperation, conducting joint military training, developing military technology and achieving maritime security.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] The Singaporean Navy and the Indian Navy have conducted joint naval exercises and training since 1993 such as SIMBEX and MILAN near India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India and Singapore have also expanded their cooperation in fighting terrorism.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18]

Commerce

Singapore is the 8th largest source of investment in India and the largest amongst ASEAN member nations.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=India-Singapore Economic and Commercial Relations|url=http://www.ficci.com/international/countries/singapore/singapore-commercialrelations.htm |publisher=Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry |accessdate=2008-06-18] It is also India's 9th biggest trading partner as of 2005-06.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] Its cumulative investment in India totals USD 3 billion as of 2006 and is expected to rise to US 5 billion by 2010 and US 10 billion by 2015.cite web |title=India, Singapore ink pact |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG02Df03.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=India, Singapore trade to touch $50 bn by 2010 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/30/stories/2005063002400700.htm |publisher=The Hindu Business Line |date=2005-06-30 |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] India's economic liberalisation and its "Look East" policy have led to a major expansion in bilateral trade, which grew from USD 2.2 billion in 2001 to US 9-10 billion in 2006 - a 400% growth in span of five years - and to USD 50 billion by 2010.cite web |title=India, Singapore trade to touch $50 bn by 2010 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/30/stories/2005063002400700.htm |publisher=The Hindu Business Line |date=2005-06-30 |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=India, Singapore ink pact |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG02Df03.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-06-18] Singapore accounts for 38% of India's trade with ASEAN member nations and 3.4% of its total foreign trade.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] India’s main exports toSingapore in 2005 included petroleum, gemstones, jewellery, machinery and its imports from Singapore included electronic goods, organic chemicals and metals. More than half of Singapore’s exports to India are basically "re-exports" - itemsthat had been imported from India.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=India-Singapore Economic and Commercial Relations|url=http://www.ficci.com/international/countries/singapore/singapore-commercialrelations.htm |publisher=Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry |accessdate=2008-06-18]

In 2005, both nations signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and have organised the India-Singapore Parliamentary Forum and the Singapore-India Partnership foundation with active support from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICC), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Singapore Business Federation to promote trade, economic development and partnerships.cite web |title=India, Singapore ink pact |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG02Df03.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=India-Singapore Economic and Commercial Relations|url=http://www.ficci.com/international/countries/singapore/singapore-commercialrelations.htm |publisher=Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry |accessdate=2008-06-18] The CECA eliminated tariff barriers, double taxation, duplicate processes and regulations and provided unhindered access and cooperation between the banks and financial institutions of Singapore and India.cite web |title=India, Singapore ink pact |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG02Df03.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] The CECA also advanced bilateral cooperation over education, science and technology, intellectual property, aviation and relaxed visa regulations for Indian professionals in information technology, medicine, engineering and financial fields to emigrate and work in Singapore.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |title=India, Singapore ink pact |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG02Df03.html |publisher=Asia Times |date=2005-07-02 |accessdate=2008-06-18] Singapore has invested in projects to upgrade India's ports, airports and developing information technology parks and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18] India has become Singapore's 4th biggest tourist destination and more than 650,000 Indians visited Singapore in 2006. Both nations have worked to collaborate on aviation, aerospace engineering, space programmes, information technology, biotechnology and energy.cite web |title=IPCS Special Report - India-Singapore Relations |url=http://www.ipcs.org/IPCS-Special-Report-41.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies |accessdate=2008-06-18]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Foreign relations of India — The Republic of India is the world s most populous democracy and has one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world (8.9 percent GDP increase in 2007, the second fastest major economy in the world after China). [… …   Wikipedia

  • Foreign relations of Bhutan — Bhutan This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Bhutan Constitution Law of Bhutan …   Wikipedia

  • Madhav Das Nalapat — (also known as M D Nalapat), holds the UNESCO Peace Chair and is Professor of Geopolitics at Manipal University,[1] an international private university headquartered in Southern India. The former Coordinating Editor of the Times of India, Prof.… …   Wikipedia

  • Chindian — This article is about people of Chinese and Indian descent. For the geopolitical term, see Chindia. Chindians Jwala Gutta · Nicol David …   Wikipedia

  • Asian people — Asians redirects here. For a nomadic Central Asian people of antiquity, see Asii. For the individual peoples of Asia, see ethnic groups in Asia. For demographic data, see demography of Asia …   Wikipedia

  • Indonesia — /in deuh nee zheuh, sheuh, zee euh, doh /, n. 1. See East Indies (def. 1). 2. Republic of. Formerly, Netherlands East Indies, Dutch East Indies. a republic in the Malay Archipelago consisting of 13,677 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi,… …   Universalium

  • Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin — Total population 30,000,000+ Regions with significant populations …   Wikipedia

  • History of Malaysia — History of Malaysia …   Wikipedia

  • Mauritius — For other uses, see Mauritius (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Mauritania. Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Barbados — For other uses, see Barbados (disambiguation). Coordinates: 13°10′N 59°33′W / 13.167°N 59.55°W / 13.167; 59.55 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”