PM Modi Embarks On Historic Visits To Brunei And Singapore, Strengthening ASEAN Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed on Tuesday for a three-day official visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

At the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, PM Modi is making the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei Darussalam.

In his departure statement, PM Modi remarked, "Today, I embark on a historic visit to Brunei Darussalam, as we mark 40 years of diplomatic relations. I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to elevate our longstanding relationship to new heights."

Brunei, under the leadership of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, is strategically located at the heart of Southeast Asia, along key maritime trade routes, making it a crucial partner for regional connectivity initiatives.

Following his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore from September 4-5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

In a statement, PM Modi said, "From Brunei, I will travel to Singapore on September 4. I look forward to engaging with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. I will also meet with leaders of Singapore's dynamic business community. Our discussions will focus on deepening our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in new and emerging areas such as advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development."

He emphasized that both Brunei and Singapore are vital partners in India's Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. "I am confident that my visits will further strengthen our partnerships with Brunei, Singapore, and the broader ASEAN region," PM Modi concluded.

During the visit, several MoUs are expected to be signed in areas of shared interest, including food security, digitization, skilling, health, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity. However, it remains uncertain whether the long-pending joint working group on defense will be established during this visit.

Singapore is India's largest trade partner within ASEAN and its biggest source of FDI, contributing $11.77 billion in FY24.