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Singapore and India signed new agreements on August 20 to deepen bilateral cooperation in telecommunications, broadcasting, and food safety, following high-level ministerial talks at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Telecommunications and Broadcasting Cooperation
The newly exchanged agreements involve Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The agencies also committed to sharing best practices for safeguarding consumer interests in telecommunications and broadcasting services, alongside coordinating their positions at international regulatory bodies.
Advancing Bilateral Ties Across Six Pillars
The fourth ISMR meeting covered all six core pillars of the bilateral dialogue mechanism: advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development, and sustainability. Singapore was represented by a high-level delegation including Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Senior Minister K. Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, and Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow. Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada.
Workforce Training and Food Safety Protocols
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong told local media after the meeting that workforce training remains a primary focus, particularly upskilling Indian workers in advanced manufacturing and aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Building on a 2024 semiconductor partnership MOU, Singapore aims to establish training centers in regions where semiconductor manufacturers are investing in India. Additionally, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India agreed to enhance technical cooperation regarding food safety, product recalls, and labelling standards.
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