Building stronger ties with India
Forum panellists and moderator (from left): Prof Tan, Mr Tow, Prof Koh and Ms Singh
India has left its footprint in Singapore in many ways, from local landmarks built by Indian labourers to the Indian diaspora, which forms less than 10 per cent of Singapore's population. Fifty years after Singapore's independence, the two countries are now finding ways to create a new shared history through culture, political ties and economic initiatives, said speakers at the Tembusu Forum titled, "Celebrating 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between India and Singapore, on 19 March.
Panellists at the Forum were Director of NUS' Institute of South Asian Studies Professor Tan Tai Yong, High Commissioner of India to Singapore Her Excellency Vijay Thakur Singh, and Acting-Director-General of the South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa Directorate Mr Jonathan Tow from Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Tembusu Rector Professor Tommy Koh moderated the Forum, as well as the question-and-answer (Q&A) session.
Singapore's founding Prime Minister the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew had looked to India for inspiration when building up the island nation in its infancy, but the two countries' strategic interests diverged in the late '70s. Around that time, India and Singapore took different economic trajectories'India nationalised many industries while Singapore took on a more open trading approach. Also, both countries found themselves on different sides of the Cold War, explained Prof Tan, who is also Yale-NUS College's Executive Vice President (Academic Affairs).
Since the 1990s, however, India and Singapore's interests have converged again, said Prof Tan. India's engagement with Singapore is now based on a template that includes knowledge sharing in several areas including air, maritime connectivity and coastal management; and smart cities. In December 2014, the two countries signed an agreement whereby Singapore would help build a smart city as the new capital of the Indian state of Andra Pradesh.
"We are engaged with each other, India and Singapore, on the official level, so that we can put together these ideas, concretise them, and move towards a strategic partnership, because that is the mandate that we have been given, that is the mandate we are required to fulfil, said Ms Singh.
During the Q&A session, a member of the audience asked how Singapore could help India overcome the digital divide in the latter's ambition to set up smart cities.
To give the audience a better understanding of India's smart city initiative, Mr Tow explained that the subcontinent intended to develop 100 smart cities that were liveable, sustainable cities that integrate work, play and living. Not all smart cities will be greenfield projects, ones that are built from scratch such as the new Andra Pradesh capital. Many would be existing cities that have been enhanced. Singapore, which he quipped was "one big smart city experiment, hoped to share its experience in integrating different technologies, lifestyles and needs.
"Smart really equates with liveable, how you can integrate facilities and life, work-life balance together, he said.
Ms Singh added that there are three layers to the smart city initiative: the development of new cities, rejuvenation of existing cities, and the conservation and preservation of heritage.
The Forum, Tembusu College's flagship event, is spearheaded by Prof Koh, who is also Ambassador-At-Large with the MFA. It aims to raise awareness and engage undergraduates by bringing informed discussions about important global, regional and national issues with distinguished academics, policymakers, diplomats and intellectuals.
