(Image source from: x.com/PMOIndia)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-nation tour has kick-started. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Brunei, he is the first-ever Indian prime minister to visit Brunei.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal has written on X that, Narendra Modi takes off for Bandar Seri Begawan, the first destination of his two-nation visit to Brunei and Singapore.
In Brunei, Modi will meet Sultan Haji Hassanal Blokiah and other members of the royal family. Modi is expected to advance India’s historical relationship with Brunei through these meetings. They are also working towards establishing a “joining working group in defence”.
Modi while leaving for Brunei said, “As we celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties, I am eager to advance our historical relationship with Brunei to new heights.”
India and Brunei are also working on a long-term relationship for the arrangement of gas supplies. Brunei will also have a special position within New Delhi’s space program. As per officials, to date India and Brunei have signed three MoUs (memorandums of understanding) in the space field.
PM @narendramodi arrived in Brunei Darussalam a short while ago.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 3, 2024
In a special gesture, the Prime Minister was warmly received by Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah at the airport. pic.twitter.com/N4O1B4jNFw
Following the Brunei visit, Narendra Modi will continue to Singapore on Wednesday for two days, that is on September 4th and 5th. Modi is scheduled to meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
In this tour, India and Singapore explore wide areas. Mainly for the cooperation with Singapore in such as manufacturing, digitalization and sustainable development. According to Indian Express, Modi also noted that, “I am looking forward to exploring new and emerging areas of collaboration, including advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development,” while leaving for the tour.
India and Singapore are also expected to create a semiconductor ecosystem. Notably now Singapore is India's largest trade partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Since 2000, Singapore's cumulative investments have been worth around $160 billion.
The Ministry of External Affairs wrote, “Ties between India and Singapore are poised to take off to an entirely new level of cooperation”.
During Narendra Modi's Singapore visit, Modi will also meet the CEOs. He will meet the business leaders and will hear India’s growth story first-hand.
The Modi visit will strengthen the relations between Singapore and Brunei. Both Brunei and Singapore are the key partners in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.
Modi’s visit is very crucial to continue the allies as he has been elected for the third term as the prime minister of India.
