Sushma Swaraj concludes 'productive' five-day tour to Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, says MEA spokesperson

Singapore: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore to deepen India’s ties with key ASEAN countries has been productive, an official said on Monday. Swaraj was in Singapore on the last leg of the 5-day tour. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Bidding farewell to the Lion City #Singapore. EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for Delhi after a productive 5-day visit to Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore to deepen our relationship with key ASEAN countries. #ActEastPolicy. pic.twitter.com/oZPFDxe3d2

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 8, 2018

Her three-nation visit was the part of New Delhi’s efforts to hold bilateral interactions in various sectors with the countries of South East Asian region within the framework of India’s Act East Policy. During her visit, Swaraj addressed the Indian diaspora at the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Singapore and reaffirmed India’s commitment to the ASEAN. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is India’s 4th largest trading partner, accounting for 10.2 percent of its total trade. India is the ASEAN’s 7th largest trading partner. The ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Sunday said his country could provide a good base for Indian companies as a civil aviation, trading and financial hub.