Sitharaman offers investment opportunities in India to global investors in Singapore | Today’s news
NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman showcased India’s investment opportunities to global institutional investors and financial institutions during a four-day visit to Singapore, highlighting infrastructure, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy and financial services as key areas for greater capital flows, the finance ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The October 8-11 visit included meetings with Singapore’s political leadership, financial authorities and major global investors, including BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase, Temasek, GIC, Carlyle and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
Sitharaman urged investors to explore opportunities through the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Center (GIFT IFSC). The government also highlighted selected infrastructure projects for potential investment.
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The discussion focused on mobilizing long-term institutional capital for India’s infrastructure and development priorities and strengthening bilateral investment and financial cooperation, the ministry said.
At a business roundtable with global investment firms, participants discussed India’s economic resilience amid global uncertainty, developments in financial markets and the implications of rapid advances in AI. Investors expressed confidence in India’s growth prospects and called for predictable, fiscally prudent and growth-oriented policies along with continued investment in infrastructure.
Broader investment opportunities
Separate meetings with executives from financial institutions and global corporations, including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Standard Chartered Bank, DBS Bank, Wellington Management, TPG, Intel and British International Investment, covered opportunities across multiple sectors.
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Discussions covered consumer markets, start-ups, fintech, healthcare, manufacturing, micro-enterprises, SMEs and trade finance. Other areas included data centers, semiconductors, renewable energy, electric mobility and aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul.
The meeting with Singapore’s financial authorities explored cooperation on emerging financial technologies, including asset tokenization, digital money, central bank digital currencies and interoperable payment and settlement systems.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore shared its approach to developing a digital asset ecosystem, including asset tokenization. The two sides discussed potential efficiency gains, regulatory challenges and the need for a credible settlement arrangement, the Treasury said.
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The two countries also reviewed progress on the outcomes of the Fourth India-Singapore Ministerial Round Table and discussed ways to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership. The talks covered capital markets, payment connectivity, digitization, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and cyber security, as well as stronger India-ASEAN economic cooperation ahead of Singapore’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2027.
Sitharaman also met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
Exports are falling
India’s exports to Singapore fell 8.57% to $11.86 billion in FY26 from $12.98 billion in FY25, even as the two countries seek to deepen economic and investment ties.
Singapore remains a key trade and investment partner for India. In FY25, it was India’s largest trading partner within ASEAN with bilateral trade of US$34.26 billion and a major source of foreign direct investment. Both countries have had a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in force since 2005 and are working to deepen trade and investment ties.
