Japan, Singapore eye urban infrastructure projects in India

Japan and Singapore have evinced keen interest to engage in the development of urban infrastructure in India in the backdrop of a business-friendly government and the massive mandate that the people of India gave to the Narendra Modi-led government in the recent general elections.

This was conveyed by representatives of both the countries during separate meetings with the minister of urban development, housing and poverty alleviation and parliamentary affairs Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi today.

An all-party delegation of members of House of Representatives of Japan's Parliament met Naidu and held wide ranging discussions on bilateral ties and the scope for further improvement of the same. Leader of the delegation, Ichiro Aisawa said that the spectacular victory of Narendra Modi has received global attention.

Aisawa, who is also the chairman of the standing committee on rules and administration of the house of representatives said that since India's growth momentum is expected from urban related projects, Japanese government and private companies are keen in participating in such projects in an appropriate manner.

Naidu said the people of India always supported increased and strategic partnership with Japan and that the Narendra Modi-led government would give special focus to cooperation with Japan in various sectors. He said India would like to benefit from their expertise and technology in urban related technologies and disaster management.

Singapore high commissioner Thuan Kuan met Venkaiah Naidu and conveyed his country's keenness to further scale up bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

According to him, ''India is now like a fast train and everyone wants to get in''. He said the foreign minister of Singapore would be visiting India next week for discussions in cooperation in various sectors, including urban development.

Naidu reciprocated the sentiments expressed by the high commissioner and said that Indians always had special affinity towards Singapore.