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After Mamata, Modi eyes Singapore

by IBNS 10 Sep 2014, 11:59 am

New Delhi, Sept 10 (IBNS): While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Singapore trip has drawn limelight few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed desire to visit the South-East Asian nation after he received Singapores Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Mr. Goh Chok Tong on Wednesday.

Modi recalled his long personal association with ESM Goh and ESM’s special contribution to the development of bilateral relations. 

ESM Goh congratulated the Prime Minister on his emphatic victory in the elections and for presenting an ambitious vision of India’s economic and social transformation. 

He extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Singapore. 

The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to visiting Singapore at the earliest convenience. 

Both sides also look forward to an exchange of visits by the Presidents of India and Singapore as part of Golden Jubilee celebrations.

It is noteworthy to mention that in a bid to attract more investments and partnership, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee concluded her trip to Singapore last month, where she met Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam. 

She also held series of meetings with the country’s business fraternity wooing them to invest in Bengal. That was “didi” Mamata Banerjee’s first foreign trip as CM.

In Wednesday’s meeting between two leaders, Goh encouraged Modi to work towards developing India as a Global Manufacturer through a combination of skill development, standard setting and access to the global market. 

In this context, he called upon India to engage more proactively with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership initiative. 

He also emphasized that a prosperous India was critical for the peace and prosperity of the entire Asian region.

Modi apprised ESM Goh of the various initiatives being taken by the Government for development of smart cities and urban centres; improving the ease of doing business; and cleaning of rivers. 

Prime Minister said that India’s strength in terms of 3Ds – Demographic Dividend, Democracy and Demand (large domestic market) – would enable it to emerge as a Global Manufacturer. 

However, for implementation of these initiatives, it would be essential to enter into partnerships with the international community to access the necessary funding and expertise. 

In this context, the Prime Minister conveyed India’s keen desire to partner with Singapore. 

ESM suggested that both sides should work for entering into a strategic economic partnership.

ESM Goh was accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry, S Iswaran and Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee.