India’s commitment to its ‘Act East’ policy has been markedly evident during the initial 100 days of the Modi administration’s third term. This period saw significant diplomatic engagements with Southeast Asia, highlighted by visits from the nation’s top officials to various ASEAN countries to strengthen bilateral ties.
During these first 100 days, President Draupadi Murmu visited Timor-Leste and Fiji and New Zealand, demonstrating India’s intention to deepen relationships within the region. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Malaysia to New Delhi, following which he visited Brunei and Singapore. This venture marked a historic first since Independence, with Modi being the first Prime Minister to visit Brunei on a bilateral basis, underscoring the strategic importance placed on ties with South East Asia and the ASEAN region for India’s growth.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar played a pivotal role by hosting leaders from Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia and undertaking official trips to Laos and Singapore within the same timeframe.
A notable aspect of PM Modi’s visit was the emphasis on strengthening the close-knit bilateral relationship with Brunei, alongside addressing concerns within Southeast Asian nations regarding New Delhi’s commitment to the region. The existing defence cooperation between India and Brunei also emerged during this visit.
Another significant moment came with PM Modi’s timely visit to Singapore, just as Lawrence Wong assumed office as Prime Minister. The extensive meeting between Modi and Wong highlighted the mutual priority afforded to bilateral relations between the two nations.
Concurrent with PM Modi’s arrival in Singapore, CapitaLand announced its decision to significantly increase its investment in India, indicating robust business confidence. This was further bolstered by the signing of an MoU aimed at enhancing cooperation in the semiconductor industry, a sector where Singapore plays a pivotal role globally and supports India in ASEAN, despite challenges from China and other countries within the group.
PM Modi’s focus on the semiconductor sector in Singapore was evident, given the city-state’s significant contribution to the global semiconductor output and its comprehensive ecosystem encompassing design, assembly, packaging, testing, and wafer fabrication.
Moreover, Singapore’s interest in participating in India’s industrial parks/smart cities initiative shows promise for future investments, setting the stage for heightened cooperation as India prepares to partake in the ASEAN summit in Laos. This affirms India’s strategic pivot to Southeast Asia, anchoring its maritime security and future growth with the ASEAN nations, presenting India as a partner of choice for countries such as Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, free from economic dominion and coercion.