Nirmala Sitharaman Visits Singapore to Boost Investment Ties

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Singapore on October 9, 2026, for a three-day official visit aimed at deepening economic ties and attracting global institutional investors. During the visit, Sitharaman met with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to discuss the India-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, global economic developments, and the ongoing energy crisis.

Sitharaman also held talks with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan regarding the long-term growth prospects for Singaporean companies in India. The discussions focused on cooperation in semiconductors, aviation, advanced manufacturing, and digital financial connectivity. To facilitate increased capital inflows, the Indian government is promoting the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and GIFT City as primary vehicles for Singaporean investment.

Beyond diplomatic meetings, Sitharaman is conducting a roundtable with hedge fund and portfolio managers, alongside one-on-one meetings with CEOs from major firms including the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, DBS Bank, and Standard Chartered. Singapore is currently India's largest source of foreign direct investment, with cumulative inflows totaling approximately $194.68 billion between April 2000 and March 2026.