Indian PM Modi's Singapore visit: 7 things about the trip!

Mr.Modi in a Event at Singapore

SINGAPORE - India Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day visit to Singapore on Tuesday (Nov 24) evening.

From signing key agreements to having dinner at the popular Indian vegetarian restaurant Komala Vilas, here are seven things about his trip:

1. 50 YEARS OF TIES

The visit marks 50 years of formal ties between Singapore and India. India was the second nation to recognise Singapore after its independence in 1965.

A special gift of the front page of Tamil Murasu dated Aug 11, 1965, that carried the news of the recognition was presented to Mr Modi on Tuesday.

2. NO STRANGER TO SINGAPORE

When Mr Modi delivered the Singapore Lecture on Monday (Nov 23), he began by saying how Singapore and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew have inspired him.

Mr Modi made his first trip here in 2006 while he was the chief minister of Gujarat. Singapore leaders have also regularly visited him in Gujarat and taken part in the Vibrant Gujarat Summits organised by Mr Modi.

Mr Modi was also present at the State Funeral Service for the late Mr Lee in March, and he ordered flags in India to be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to Mr Lee.

3. SIMPLE FIRST DINNER AT KOMALA VILAS

Right after the lecture, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching hosted Mr Modi to a vegetarian meal at Komala Vilas.

They caused quite a stir at the restaurant, and a crowd of gawking onlookers gathered outside as word spread of Mr Modi's presence.

Here's what they ate: idli (a rice cake consisting of fermented black lentils), vadai (savoury fritters) and the restaurant's famous thosai (a crepe made from rice batter and lentils).

Their initial order was only for plain thosai, but Ms Ho later ordered onion and masala thosai, said Mr Rajakumar Gunasekaran, operations director of the restaurant.

Mr Modi was also hosted to lunch at the Istana on Tuesday.

4. STRATEGIC TIES

Highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Visit

Mr Modi and Mr Lee witnessed the signing of nine bilateral documents on Tuesday.

The highlight was the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership, which elevates the ties between the two countries. It will broaden and deepen ties across various sectors including defence relations, economic and cultural cooperation, skills development and capacity building.

5. MEETING THE INDIAN DIASPORA

Mr Modi received a rousing welcome from about 18,000 people, mainly Indian expatriates here, at the Singapore Expo on Tuesday evening.

Singapore NRI Forum, which organised the event, said it was inundated with requests for seats.

Mr Modi also took a moment to take a photo with construction workers at the Indian National Army memorial at Esplanade Park, and posted the snap on Facebook.

Outside of  INA memorial marker

 

6. NO MODI ORCHID, FOR NOW

Mr Modi declined to have a Singapore orchid named after him on this trip "due to paucity of time", Indian officials said.

But he launched a commemorative Singapore-India stamp set comprising two stamps that depict the presidential residences of both countries.

7. REAL-TIME UPDATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Mr Modi is known for being technologically savvy, and being very active on social media. His packed itinerary in Singapore is constantly updated on his Twitter account, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

[thanks to ST]

Modi ji gifts Singapore PM reproduction of 1849 map!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday  gifted Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong a reproduction of a map of Singapore dating back to 1849. 

"Presented PM @leehsienloong a reproduction of a map of the island of Singapore dating back to 1849," Modi tweeted. 

On the second day of his bilateral visit to this city state, the Indian prime minister was hosted to a lunch banquet by Lee. 

Modi stated that the map measuring 52 inches X 52 inches and based on a survey that was done during 1842-45, depicted topographical details of parts of Singapore. 

Indian PM Mr.Modi's tweet

"The map also depicts a description of various points in the vicinity of Singapore town above the level of low water spring tides," he tweeted. 

"The reproduction was done from the cartographic collection of the National Archives of India, New Delhi," he added. 

India and Singapore on Tuesday signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership and nine accords cutting across various sectors following talks between Modi and Lee. 

After the signing of the documents, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted that the two prime ministers noted the importance of culture between the two countries and encouraged more exhibitions, exchanges and interactions. 

Modi and Lee noted their shared interest in furthering cooperation in the areas of science and technology, particularly in space, biomedicine and ayurveda, the spokesperson added. 

The two prime ministers also released two postal stamps showing Rashtrapati Bhavan and Istana, the Singaporean presidential palace, to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Istana following which he met Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. 

Modi arrived in Singapore from Malaysia on Monday in the second and last leg of his four-day visit to southeast Asia.

[thanks to TOI]

Indian PM Modi ji to visit Singapore!

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore is of special significance as both countries commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Indian PM Mr.Narendra Modi

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Singapore on a two-day visit from Monday (Nov 23). 

His visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, is of special significance as both countries commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. To mark this occasion, Singapore and India will elevate relations by signing the Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration.

The declaration outlines the two countries’ interest in expanding cooperation in key areas like smart cities and urban solutions, skills development, connectivity and economic cooperation. This will build on Singapore’s contributions to India in these areas, which include the master-planning of Amaravati - the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh - and support of the Centre of Excellence in Tourism Training in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

The Strategic Partnership will also acknowledge the importance of enhancing connectivity between India and the region, including the expansion of air links. This will help promote further trade and investment between the two countries as well as people-to-people links.

The partnership will also chart the future direction of Singapore’s cooperation with India in the areas of defence, cultural exchanges, financial services, water and waste management, as well as port management.

On Monday, Mr Modi will deliver the 37th Singapore Lecture, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

On Tuesday, he will deliver a Special Address at the India-Singapore Economic Convention hosted by Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran and interact with Singapore business leaders. 

In addition, Mr Modi will visit ITE College Central together with PM Lee where he will learn more about Singapore’s approach to vocational education and skills training.

[thanks to newsasia]