Last Updated on 02/09/2024 by Ankita
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a visit to Brunei and Singapore from 3-5 September. He will first visit Brunei on 3-4 September. The PM is going on the invitation of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. These visits are expected to further strengthen India’s relations with both the countries.
The PM’s visit will especially focus on the interests of the Indian expatriate community. Apart from this, an MoU is also expected to be signed regarding a free trade agreement with Singapore.
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told several important issues regarding the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Brunei:
Semiconductor Collaboration: India is looking at the possibility of enhancing cooperation with Brunei in the semiconductor sector.
Hydrocarbons and Natural Gas Imports: India is importing hydrocarbons from Brunei and is trying to increase the supply of natural gas. The PM will specifically discuss this issue during his visit.
Situation in Myanmar: The situation in Myanmar will also be discussed with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, which reflects India’s strategic interest in the region.
Bilateral Trade and Investment: India has invested $270 million in Brunei’s hydrocarbon sector and is expected to further expand the investment to meet its natural gas requirements.
The focus of a trip to Singapore
During his visit to Singapore on September 4-5, Prime Minister Modi may review the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Singapore under the ASEAN framework. The MEA has informed about the possible discussions on the review during the visit.
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Apart from these, more agreements (MOUs) are also expected to be signed. MEA Secretary Jaideep Mazumdar said, “Regarding the signing of MOUs, I suggest you will not be disappointed.” Many issues can also be discussed regarding regional tensions with respect to China.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Brunei and Singapore is focused on strengthening India’s relations with South-East Asia, focusing on energy security, tech cooperation and regional stability.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)