Speech by Second Minister S Iswaran at the Inaugural Session, Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Your Excellency, Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

Your Excellency, Shrimati Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat

Distinguished Guests,

Good morning. I am delighted to join you for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015, here at the beautiful venue of Mahatma Mandir. Let me first, on behalf of the official business delegation, thank Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Patel, government officials and the people of Gujarat for the very warm hospitality you have extended to all of us. Singapore has been an active participant in Vibrant Gujarat since it began in 2003, and we have seen the summit grow steadily in scope and scale, mirroring the impressive, rapid progress of Gujarat under the visionary leadership of, first, Shri Modi, and continuing now with Shrimati Patel at the helm. This year, Singapore is especially honoured to be a Partner Country of the Summit. We have with us here today the largest delegation of Singaporean businessmen to India in recent years. Their participation reflects the high level of interest from them and other businesses in the region, and the confidence that the Singaporean business community has in the attractive investment and business opportunities offered by Gujarat and, indeed, the whole of India.

This confidence stems in no small part from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s historic victory in the general elections last year and the strong leadership of Prime Minister Modi. As an old friend and partner of India, Singapore is excited by Prime Minister Modi’s vision for India and the way he has energized the government and people of India to take decisive steps to realise that vision. This includes “Make In India”, to transform India into a global manufacturing hub; “A Hundred Smart Cities”, to develop new cities and upgrade existing ones into modern cities that are sustainable and highly liveable, with excellent infrastructure and amenities, and effective governance. The fact that Prime Minister Modi personally oversees the Project Monitoring Group and clears crucial projects signals to international businesses and investors that, this time, India really means business.

India has always been a close friend and strategic partner to Singapore. This year we marked our 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. This is a relationship that is reflected at the leadership level, the business level and the people to people level. Even before that, Singapore has had strong trade links that go back several centuries, since Gujarati traders first brought spices and cloths from the western coast of India and the Middle East to Southeast Asia. Gujarati traders were also among the pioneering business leaders in Singapore.  Indeed, the first president of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1935 was a Gujarati - Mr Rajabali Jumabhoy. And the Gujarati community in Singapore continues to thrive and make significant contribution.

Under then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Singapore was able to deepen this historical relationship. Singapore’s former Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, and Foreign Minister of State, the late Dr Balaji Sadasivan visited Gujarat regularly. Our links continue to deepen. Yesterday, I was pleased to be on the inaugural flight of Vistara from Delhi to Ahmedabad. Vistara is a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons, which is yet another example of the strong and growing partnership between Singapore, Gujarat and India. We look forward to continuing this deep relationship under Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.

The development priorities and economic agenda of the new Indian government present many possibilities to forge new partnerships with India. One area where Singapore hopes to make a significant contribution is to Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives to develop Smart and Sustainable Cities. This is also one of the themes of Vibrant Gujarat. Singapore government agencies and our private sector can make useful contributions in this sector having gained much expertise in driving our own development over the past 5 decades. We have been in discussions with the central government on its Smart Cities initiative. We are also working with Andhra Pradesh with master planning and development of its new capital city, and exploring opportunities in other states and cities in sectors such as township development, industrial and IT parks, as well as utilities such as water and power.

Gujarat is one state where there has been strong commercial interest from Singapore companies because of its pro-business environment and good infrastructure. Among the 100-strong Singapore business delegation present today, there are many urban solutions companies as well as businesses in the infrastructure, food processing and education sectors. They share our enthusiasm and look forward to deepening our business collaboration with Gujarat.

Singapore can also work with Gujarati and Indian businesses to expand their reach to Southeast Asia and beyond. India is well-positioned to attract investments from companies all over the world. But manufacturing today is no longer undertaken in a single location. It involves well-connected global production chains, where different stages of production are located in different countries. As India becomes a global manufacturing hub, it will need to plug into these global networks and supply chains. It will also need to ensure the easy movement of goods – both raw materials and finished products - in and out of the country. In that regard, Gujarat is ideally located, has excellent ports and is a model for trade and business in India.

Singapore has always welcomed and promoted India’s deeper engagement with ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This year, with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, this impetus gathers greater focus. As a business and financial hub in the Asian region, Singapore will continue to work with the government and business community of India to deepen ties and your collaborations with Southeast Asia. Indian and Gujarati companies can, and already do, leverage on the economic integration initiatives such as the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India and Singapore, and the recently concluded ASEAN India Free Trade Agreement to grow their businesses in the region.

I want to conclude by congratulating Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Patel and all involved on the enormous success of Vibrant Gujarat. Vibrant Gujarat 2015 is an excellent and timely platform for businesses to explore opportunities in India through Gujarat. It is also an opportunity for Gujarat and India to look outwards at the wider region with Singapore and the other many partners who have gathered here. Perhaps most importantly, I think it is fitting that it is here - the home state of Mahatma Ghandi, that we are gathering to think and consider partnerships that fully realise the enormous potential of India to build a better life for more than 1.2 billion people of India. Thank you for inviting us.