ASEAN benefits when China, India engage, says Singapore's minister

India and China continue to be major drivers of Asia’s economic growth, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) benefiting from their engagement, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Singapore, Mr. Alvin Tan. Speaking at the forum titled 'China and India: Fostering Growth, Investment and Trade Amid Global Uncertainty', he highlighted opportunities for India to integrate supply chains with Asean in sectors such as semiconductors and green energy. He noted that Singapore has built strong bilateral ties with both countries, including the India-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in 2005 and the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) launched in 2022. During the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lawrence Wong’s recent visit to India, he and the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, inaugurated a roadmap for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), guiding future bilateral collaboration. Singapore’s Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) International has invested Rs. 10,564 crore (US$ 1.2 billion)  in Navi Mumbai port, reflecting a continued commitment to India’s infrastructure and trade sector.
Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Singapore, Mr. Alvin Tan, also emphasised Singapore’s enduring partnerships with China, noting the China-Singapore FTA as the first comprehensive bilateral FTA Beijing signed with an Asian country. Beyond economics, bilateral cooperation covers health, culture, and education, facilitated through the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation. Highlighting India’s strengths as a manufacturing hub for electronics, electric vehicles, auto components, and green energy, he underscored the potential for Singaporean businesses to contribute to India’s growth. He observed that Singapore has historically served as a trading hub, connecting centuries-old cultural and commercial ties with China and India, and continues to provide a platform for investment, innovation, and regional connectivity.

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