Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, November 12 (ANI): Singapore has signed an agreement with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to strengthen business and tourism exchanges with India, focusing on promoting the city-state as a preferred destination for exhibitions and conferences organized by Indian corporations.
The High Commission of Singapore in India announced in a post on X on Thursday that the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and CII had signed the agreement to promote Singapore as the preferred destination for exhibitions and conferences organized by Indian corporations.
“A big boost for Singapore-India business and tourism exchanges! Singapore Tourism Board @visitSingapore and CII @FollowCII have signed an agreement, which will facilitate Singapore as the destination of choice for exhibitions and conferences convened by Indian corporations,” the High Commission said.
Highlighting the growing number of Indian visitors to Singapore, the High Commission added, “Singapore received 1.2 million Indian visitors last year, and we look forward to welcoming more!”
The High Commission also announced through its official X account that Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Foreign Affairs, Gan Siow Huang, addressed the 2026 CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
“Minister of State for Trade and Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang spoke at the 2026 CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam. She reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment linkages with India,” the post stated.
These developments underscore Singapore’s efforts to deepen its economic engagement with India, particularly through stronger trade, investment, business and tourism ties.
Meanwhile, maritime relations between the two countries also continue to strengthen. The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026), hosted by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam, concluded on October 26.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise further strengthened longstanding maritime cooperation and operational engagement between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
As part of the bilateral engagement, Colonel Bertram Ang, Fleet Commander of the RSN, called on Rear Admiral Vishal Bishnoi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. The two exchanged professional views on strengthening maritime cooperation between the countries and discussed matters of mutual interest.
SIMBEX-2026 was conducted in two phases. The harbor phase featured subject matter expert exchanges, cross-deck visits, professional interactions, sporting engagements and planning conferences, facilitating the exchange of operational knowledge and enhancing mutual understanding.
The sea phase, conducted in the Bay of Bengal, involved maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare drills, seamanship exercises and cross-deck flying operations. These activities enhanced coordination and interoperability between the participating forces.
The exercise included the participation of the RSN ship RSS Supreme, a Formidable-class stealth frigate carrying an embarked SH-70B helicopter, the ministry said.
The Indian Navy was represented by the indigenously built stealth frigate INS Nilgiri, the ASW corvette INS Kamorta and aviation assets, including P-8I and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft, Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and MH-60R helicopters.
SIMBEX has served as an important platform for strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation, operational interoperability and professional engagement between India and Singapore.
The exercise also demonstrated both nations’ commitment to enhancing maritime security and promoting stability in the Indian Ocean Region. (ANI)
About The Author
