New Delhi, Feb 18 (UNI) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday pitched for increased business to business ties between India and Singapore, saying that such a partnership will help make both countries self-reliant and provide opportunities to expand their global footprint.

Delivering the keynote address at India-Singapore CEO Forum. Goyal urged businesses to look at ways how the two sides can expand the engagement and encourage India's youth to use more innovative technologies.

India and Singapore are working together in cyber security and disaster relief.

The Minister said education and skill development could be taken up as areas where "we can work together and learn from Singapore’s experience."

E-Commerce, Fintech, smart manufacturing, healthcare are significant areas where India offers a large market.

He said that working together in these areas can truly transform India's own effort to give the best to its people.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that "Singapore is our spring board to the ASEAN region," Goyal expressed the belief that the new regional order that would emerge, will depend to a large extent on Singapore and India.

He expressed happiness that Singapore and the GIFT city which is India's first operational smart city, have tied up with the Singapore exchange to boost international investment in India.

The Minister also stressed the need for create people-to-people engagement and that can rest on three B --- Buddhism, Bollywood and Business.

"Our women entrepreneurs have done us proud, and the huge potential in this area can be expanded to improve India and Singapore relationship," a Commerce Ministry statement quoted him as saying.

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