India-Singapore to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2025

Singapore | India and Singapore will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations next year focusing on people-to-people relations, Indian envoy Shilpak Ambule said here on Saturday.

An elaborate programme will be worked out for the next year's celebration, the Indian High Commissioner to Singapore said at the inauguration of ‘Namaste Bharat', a trade show displaying India's soft power.

“We don't realize the full potential of our soft power. It is this tradition of dance and culture, which binds us together, which we should propagate,” he told a gathering of more than 300 guests and visitors at the show.

He appreciated the fact that there are platforms and groups in Singapore that actively promote Indian classical dance, folk dance along with the traditional instruments and even the artwork, “all of which define India.”

“‘Namaste Bharat' is more than just an exhibition, it's a celebration of India's spirit. The 12th edition this year is once again showcasing new India's inspiring journey and the limitless opportunities it holds for businesses and communities alike,” said Purnima Kamath, founder and CEO of De Ideaz, a Singapore-based show organiser.

The ‘Namaste Bharat' event has showcased a wide range of ‘Made in India' products, many of which are from the government of India's ‘One-District One-Product' scheme at the three-day exhibition expected to draw over 25,000 visitors.

One of the products is millets which is showcased by multiple organisations.

Sorghum United, an NGO formed in 2023 after the UN declared it as the ‘International Year of Millets.' Stating that millets were being increasingly consumed across the world, its chief executive officer Nate Blum told PTI, bakeries in the United States are getting ready to make millet-based products while millet pasta is being made in some countries.

Dr Khadar Valli, a prominent voice in millet-based health practices, is among experts sharing his knowledge on the benefits of millets in everyday diets.