National
Singapore for broader India-Southeast Asia connectivity
New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) In robust support to New Delhi’s Act East Policy that aims at greater engagement with Southeast Asia, Singapore has strongly pitched for greater aviation, maritime and digital connectivity between India and the 10-member ASEAN.
“India will have to engage more and not less with southeast Asia,” Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said at this year’s Singapore Symposium on the topic “India, Singapore and Asean: Shared History, Common Future” organised by industry body CII and the Institute of South Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore here on Tuesday evening.
“There is a need for enhanced maritime and aviation connectivity between India and ASEAN,” he added.
Balakrishnan said ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a global player and is involved in projects in India and Sri Lanka among other places which is why there is a need for more maritime connectivity between the two regions.
“India needs to boldly liberalise its air services,” he said, citing figures.
“My favourite statement when I meet Indian bureaucrats on this is the following: interest of state outweighs interest of state airline.”
Balakrishnan said that Singapore, with a population of 5.5 million receives more than 16 million tourists every year while India, a country much larger than the city state, only receives half that number.
“If you think about India’s size and population, natural resources, and beauty and history and culture, it cannot be that India is content with 8.2 million tourists,” he said.
Stating that India is among the five fastest growing aviation markets, he said that a 10 per cent increase in India’s air connectivity can increase India’s economy by $600 million.
“A more liberalised air services regime will create an entire ecosystem of airports, infrastructure, tourism and business services industry,” he stated
Balakrishnan also stressed on digital connectivity, saying it can completely transform the way financial transactions are executed, reducing human interventions and enhancing efficiency.
“We hope that there will be more interaction between Singapore, ASEAN and India vis-a-vis digital connectivity,” he said.
He called for linking of Indian and Singaporean electronic payment systems and creation of smart financial centres.
The Singapore Foreign Minister said the city state is the hub for India to do trade with the ASEAN regional bloc.
“In 2016, India was Singapore’s 10th largest trading partner, while Singapore is the second largest foreign investor in India,” he said.
Balakrishnan said these investments prove that Singapore has always been a strong believer in India’s future.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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