Pranab Mukherjee greets Tony Tan Keng Yam on Singapore's National Day

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday extended greetings to the government and the people of Singapore on their National Day on August 9 and said there was a vast untapped potential in sectors like defence and infrastructure development between the two countries. [caption id=“attachment_2868858” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Pranab Mukherjee. PTI[/caption] In a message to Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Mukherjee said: “On behalf of the government and the people of India and on my own behalf, it is with great pleasure that I extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and to the people of Singapore on your National Day.” The National Day of Singapore commemorates its independence from Malaysia in 1965. The President said the bilateral relations between India and Singapore are marked by a long tradition of close cooperation. “In recent years, our ties have strengthened and intensified to our mutual benefit. Both our governments desire the expansion of our relationship in all its aspects. “While we have elevated our relationship to that of a strategic partnership last year and enhanced our economic cooperation, vast untapped potential still exists in many sectors – particularly defence and security, infrastructure development and people-to-people contacts,” Mukherjee said. The following is the full text of his greetings to Singaporeans:

On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it is with great pleasure that I extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and to the people of Singapore on the occasion of your National Day. The bilateral relations between India and Singapore are marked by a long tradition of close cooperation. In recent years, our ties have strengthened and intensified to our mutual benefit. Both our Governments desire the expansion of our relationship in all its aspects. While we have elevated our relationship to that of a Strategic Partnership last year and enhanced our economic cooperation, vast untapped potential still exists in many sectors – particularly the areas of defence and security, infrastructure development and people-to-people contacts. I am confident that together, our two Governments will be successful in realising our common goals for the advancement of our people and the benefit of our entire region. I take this opportunity to convey my best wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Singapore.