S'pore seeks stronger ties with India

NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said Tuesday at the start of an official visit to India that he wanted to boost bilateral cooperation especially in information technology, reports AFP.

Goh, who arrived in New Delhi late Monday, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace here. The ceremony was attended by President K.R. Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

"I want India to look towards South East Asia, Asean and Singapore. I know India places importance to relations with US and Europe," Goh told reporters at the palace.

"Our relations are very good but unfortunately because of the recent economic crisis in Asia, our contacts were slowed down and I am, therefore, here to strengthen our ties," he said.

The Singapore leader praised his Indian counterpart.

"Prime Minister Vajpayee is embarking on a second wave of reforms and I am here to encourage him," he said.

Goh appealed to Indian information technology experts to consider relocating to Singapore.

"India is losing some people to Silicon Valley (in California) and I hope you would lose some to Singapore," he said.

The prime minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shanmugam Jayakumar, minister of state for trade and industry and communications and Information technology Lim Swee Say, other senior government officials and a business delegation.

Goh is due Wednesday to deliver a keynote address at a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). On Thursday, he is to open an International Tech Park in the southern city of Bangalore.

The CII and two other Indian groups -- Manufacturing Association of Information Technology and the National Association of Software and Service Companies -- will make a joint presentation to Goh on cooperation between Singapore and India in information technology.