- Indo-Singaporean relations
The bilateral relations between the
Republic of India and theRepublic 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 onmaritime security , training forces, conducting joint exercises, developing military technology and fightingterrorism .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-backedcommunist threats as well as domination fromMalaysia andIndonesia 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 theMalay archipelago and theFar East . Although the rival positions of both nations over theVietnam War and theCold 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 toIndia's "Look East" Policy of expanding its economic, cultural and strategic ties inSoutheast Asia to strengthen its standing as aregional 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 leaderMorarji 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 theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Singapore also supported India in its war against Pakistan in 1965 and theKashmir 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 achievingmaritime 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] TheSingaporean Navy and theIndian Navy have conducted joint naval exercises and training since 1993 such as SIMBEX and MILAN near India'sAndaman and Nicobar Islands . India and Singapore have also expanded their cooperation in fightingterrorism .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 includedpetroleum , 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), theConfederation 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 ininformation 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 developinginformation technology parks and aSpecial 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.