India, Singapore to conduct longest naval exercise in next month

New Delhi, August 16: The navies of India and Singapore are all set to conduct joint exercises next month in a bid to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the maritime bilateral exercise between the two countries.

 

Indian High Commissioner Jawed Ashraf in Singapore on Wednesday said, “The two countries have excellent defence relationship and this is a reflection of deep mutual trust and a shared vision for the region.” He further informed that in just a few weeks, we will be celebrating 25 years of our bilateral naval exercise. Later in the year, the two countries' air forces and armies will also conduct joint exercises, he added.

Notably, the bilateral naval exercise will be the longest uninterrupted naval exercises that India has with any country in the world.

The Indian High Commissioner also stated that the economic partnership is of a great value to both the countries. Elaborating, he said Singapore is a leading destination for outbound Indian investments, which accounts for about 20 percent. “Approximately 8,000 Indian companies are registered in Singapore,” Ashraf added.

He also pointed out that the two nations are working together in the fields of technology and innovation solutions that inspire hope and provide solutions for the weak and vulnerable. “The Indian professionals and the startups here provide the spark that is igniting the ecosystem and creating the cyber-bridge between our two countries,” Ashraf concluded.

Importantly, Singapore is a leading source of investment in India and a key financial market for Indian companies. The country is the gateway to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a broader East.