India & Singapore should invoke 3Bs-Buddhism, Bollywood, Business, to make it the defining partnership of this century: Piyush Goyal

Feb 18, 2021

• Minister highlights power of women in business and skills in India-Singapore engagement

NEW DELHI, 18 February 2021: To further strengthen the India - Singapore economic and investment relations, the second meeting of India-Singapore CEOs forum was organized today. 

Addressing the 2nd Meeting of India-Singapore CEOs Forum', organized by FICCI, jointly with DPIIT, Govt of India, Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry, Govt of India highlighted three Bs-Buddhism, Bollywood and Business, for enhancing India-Singapore relations.

Mr Goyal also emphasized on creating a forum for women entrepreneurs, for both India and Singapore for sharing of experiences and success stories. He also stressed on education and skill development being key pillars for strengthening India- Singapore ties.

Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information & Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Govt of Singapore urged for a greater engagement between the businesses on both sides. He emphasized on 3Ds- Development, Diversification and Digital Economy for building a partnership that will benefit the two economies.

Mr Uday Shankar, President, FICCI said that India-Singapore enjoys multifaceted strategic relations and both nations are supporting each other in the endeavour to reinvigorate multilateralism.

Mr Harshavardhan Neotia, Co-Chair, India-Singapore CEO Forum, Past President, FICCI and Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group said that the Forum will focus on two working groups, viz., Innovative technologies and Advanced Manufacturing. It would cover the aspects of women empowerment in business, education and skills, in these areas. He also emphasised facilitating collaboration in Artificial Intelligence, IoT, blockchain and Big Data, Advanced manufacturing, Infrastructure Financing, e-Commerce, and Healthcare.

Mr Gautam Banerjee, Co-Chair, India-Singapore CEO Forum, Senior Managing Director and Chairman, Blackstone Singapore said, "In January 1994, the then Singapore Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong started a 'mild India fever' with his visit to India with a group of Singapore businessmen. Since that historical visit not only has bilateral trade and investment between the two countries grown significantly but the level of knowledge, confidence, and desire of businesses from both countries to invest and operate in each other's territories has grown at a healthy pace. The India-Singapore CEOs Forum will help identify new areas of cooperation, investment and partnership between businesses of both countries."

The members of India- Singapore CEOs Forum also agreed to work towards resolving regulatory issues and processes affecting bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.

Co-Chairs Mr Neotia and Mr Banerjee presented a Joint Intention document with proposals for collaboration to Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry, Government of India and Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information & Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Government of Singapore