Brunei, Singapore important partners in our Act East policy, Indo-Pacific vision: PM Modi

New Delhi, Sep 03: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for an important visit to Brunei and Singapore, marking his first-ever bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam. In his departure statement, the Prime Minister emphasised the significance of the visit as India and Brunei celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations.

“Today, I am embarking on a first-ever bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam. As we celebrate the 40 years of our diplomatic relations, I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to advance our historical relationship to new heights,” said Prime Minister Modi.

Following his visit to Brunei, the Prime Minister will travel to Singapore on September 4, where he will engage with key leaders, including President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. The Prime Minister also plans to meet with leaders from Singapore’s business community.

“I look forward to my discussions to deepen our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development. Both countries are important partners in our Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. I am confident that my visits will further strengthen our partnership with Brunei, Singapore, and the larger ASEAN region,” he added.

The visit to Brunei comes at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the importance of this visit, stating that Modi’s visit would enhance cooperation in various sectors, including defence, trade, energy, space technology, health, and culture, while exploring new avenues for collaboration.

Diplomatic ties between India and Brunei were formally established in 1984, shortly after Brunei gained independence. Over the years, the relationship has grown through cultural linkages and shared memberships in international organizations such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the Commonwealth.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Singapore, his first in six years, comes at a crucial time as both countries seek to elevate their partnership across a broad spectrum of areas, including trade, technology, and defence. Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East at the MEA, emphasized the significance of the visit, stating, “Ties between India and Singapore are poised to take off to an entirely new level of cooperation.”

Mazumdar highlighted that the visit is “important for trade and investment,” noting that Singapore remains India’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and ranks as the sixth-largest trade partner globally.

He also remarked on the deep economic interdependence between the two nations, underlining the importance of the visit in the context of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s recent assumption of office in Singapore. “This is an opportune time to set the stage for the next phase of India-Singapore’s vibrant bilateral relations,” Mazumdar added.