'Singapore must ensure Indo-ASEAN contacts'

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, DEC. 4. The Confederation of Indian Industry president, Mr. Arun Bharat Ram, today said Singapore should take the lead in ensuring that India had greater contact with the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Bharat Ram, who is heading the CII delegation for its annual meetings with the Singapore Government, said there was need for contacts at the heads of state level between India and the ASEAN. Asked about Singapore's suggestion for a free trade area (FTA) with India, he said, ``we look at it very positively.''

The CII delegation, which will call on the Singapore Prime Minister, Mr. Goh Chok Tong, tomorrow, is interacting with a cross-section of business leaders, during the two-day visit. ``We will ask Singapore to use its good offices to ensure this Summit- level meeting,'' Mr. Bharat Ram said adding that they would raise the matter with Mr. Goh.

Admitting that he did not expect such a meeting to take place in the near future, he said there was a need to ``keep working'' at the idea. (It may be recalled that at the just- concluded ASEAN Informal Summit such contacts were ruled out for some time to come).

Referring to the CII mission this year, he said it was important to reach out to the large Chinese community in Singapore and interest them in investing in India. ``One of our goals is to interact with the Chinese business community.''

Mr. Bharat Ram said they would inform their Singaporean interlocutors about the economic reforms in India. There was a possibility that foreign direct investment (FDI) may be allowed in the housing sector (an area in which Singapore has considerable expertise). Singapore should, once again, look at infrastructure projects, including construction of airports in India.

Welcoming projects such as the Singapore Telecommunications tie- up with Bharti Telecom for the $650 million under-sea cable link between Chennai and Singapore, the CII chief said there was need for cooperation in medium-size projects as well. ``We are seeing signs of that happening.''

Another member of the CII delegation and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Mr. Sunil Mittal, said the French firm Alcatel, had already started work on the construction of the Chennai-Singapore submarine cable. It would essentially be to carry data but would cater to voice needs as well.

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Section  : International
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