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HIGH COMMISSIONER’S INTERVIEW
(Above left): PM Modi’s visit in 2018 laid the foundation for the signing of more than 30 bilateral agreements between India and Singapore. (Above right):
VIPs at The Next Phase’s InSpreneur 3.0 event in Septermber 2019
say that, yes, we’ve achieved some of the goals We’ve done well also in other new initiatives such We’ve also tried to do things differently here.
we’ve set for ourselves. Does that mean that we as in defence and in helping more Singaporean For example, the International Day of Yoga is
have done everything we’d wanted to do? I’d say companies invest in India; likewise, helping celebrated globally, and there was a tendency in
probably not. Certainly, this is a clean slate that Indian companies invest here. For that, we’ve every city to organize one mega event with you
you can keep writing on it as much as you like had constant round of events, to create those know, thousands of people at an iconic venue
and as much as others would let you write on it. bridges to build those connections to build which is identified with that city such as New
a better understanding of processes, and to York’s Times Square, Trafalgar Square or Hyde
Overall, I think we are just a catalyst in the create networks of people who can collaborate Park in London or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
process. India and Singapore have certainly and work with each other, government with
advanced the relationship. In the course of business as well as business with business. And, For Singapore we wanted to take yoga over to
these past three years we have made progress and we’ve tried to keep this process going. the whole community. So last year, we held 180
across every dimension of a truly comprehensive yoga sessions in 120 venues in Singapore. That
strategic partnership. I think one of the joys here has been to work in means one venue per six square kilometers of
the realm of art and culture. And I think we’ve the city. I think that might be a world record
As far as the High Commission is concerned, successfully worked with an extraordinary pool for the International Yoga Day. That’s like the
yes, there were a number of things that we of local talent, local events, organisations, and highest density of venues and events anywhere
did which were our initiatives. You’ve seen institutions to help create an Indian cultural in the world. We were able to partner with 40
we’ve had mega events such as the Pravasi and art calendar that can rival some of the organizations, including SGactive, Narpani
Bharatiya Divas - the ASEAN India diaspora major cities of India. And this has really been Pearavai (the Indian Activity section which is
event; the two memorable visits here of Prime something that’s been a source of great joy. part of Singapore’s People’s Association) as
Minister Modi, And then of course, we have this well as practically every yoga institution here.
absolutely massive The Next Phase Business Now, about the last part of your question - We were able to do it in hospitals, in homes for
and Innovation Summit in 2019. where do we get the money? Where do we get the elderly, in mental health institutions and in
the resources to do an event such as a sit-down schools, colleges and universities!
We have also done some absolutely new dinner for 2,800 people and have a giant stage
pioneering work in areas such as technology, with five, six giant screens and do that over a I find that there is just an enormous reservoir of
innovation, FinTech and startups. These are two-day period? goodwill and willingness on the part of people
areas which were really our own initiative, for to not just do things but to do them really
example, the International launch of Indian It’s largely corporate sponsors, we’ve been well, which is, I think is also the reason for the
payment products like the Rupay and BHIM QR. fortunate many people have been very country’s success.
It was something which happened in Singapore, generous in supporting our ventures.
because we pushed for it. That shows two things. One, is the great In terms of your diplomatic career, how has
commitment on the part of corporate entities being in Singapore affected you?
We’re also working on a number of other in India and in Singapore, to this strategic Well, it was three wonderful years to start with,
initiatives, including connecting the payment partnership, and that’s very encouraging. in terms of my diplomatic life. My wife and I
infrastructure in Singapore with the payment Much more than the fact that we’ve been able have certainly enjoyed being here for a number
infrastructure in India and connecting MSMEs to raise those resources is the fact that there of reasons. We’ve got to experience Southeast
(Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) through is such keen interest and such a high level of Asia for the first time. Singapore, again, is a
a digital hub. commitment. The second, I think they have very special country for reasons beyond what
confidence in our ability, despite our own very is generally said and we made some wonderful
Also, as we have done in India with the India lean team here at the High Commission, that friends. These are relationships that will last
Stack, how do you work with Singapore to make we would be able to deliver on the vision and well beyond my tenure here and will be, I think
it into a global stack. This is again one of our they certainly liked our vision. At the end of it the compelling reasons to return here from
initiatives, which is an ongoing process. all, they’ve been very happy. time to time.
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