Singapore expresses readiness to join hands for Andhra Pradesh's development during CM Naidu's 5-day tour

Singapore Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Tan See Leng affirmed that Singapore is fully prepared to be a partner in the development of Andhra Pradesh and its capital city, Amaravati.

Hyderabad: In a fillip to Andhra Pradesh's plan to build a new capital city Amaravati, Singapore had evinced interest to collaborate with the state government.

Singapore Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Tan See Leng expressed Singapore’s readiness to collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh government across multiple sectors. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu who is in Singapore on a 5 day tour along with a high level delegation met Tan on Tuesday.

Tan affirmed that Singapore is fully prepared to be a partner in the development of Andhra Pradesh and its capital city, Amaravati. In his post on social media, he reiterated Singapore’s commitment to working on ongoing and future projects in the state, identifying agriculture, food processing, and renewable energy as promising sectors for investment. Highlighting Andhra Pradesh as one of India’s fastest-growing states, the minister pointed out that Singapore-based companies such as Food Empire and EverVolt are already exploring investment and expansion opportunities in the region. He also noted that his discussions with Naidu had touched on key areas, including ports, green energy, digital technology, and skill development.

“Had a good meeting with Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu this morning. AP is one of India’s fastest-growing states, with strong potential in sectors such as agri-food, manufacturing, and renewable energy. Singapore companies like Food Empire and Evervolt are already present in the state and are looking to deepen their investments and expand operations. We had a good discussion on opportunities for investments and partnerships in sectors such as ports, green energy, digital technologies, and skills. During Mr Naidu’s first term in 2014 – 2019, Singapore supported AP in developing its capital city, Amaravati, providing a masterplan, expert exchanges, and capacity building. Singapore companies also won a Swiss Challenge tender to develop a start-up area in Amaravati. However, this cooperation ceased when a new government took over in 2019. The Singapore consortium also exited the Amaravati project,” Tan said in a social media post.

He added that Chief Minister and he agreed to explore anew, partnerships with the state. Although the Singapore consortium will not be reconstituted, Singapore will continue to support the development of AP and Amaravati through technical cooperation in urban development and working together with partners like World Bank, he added.

In response to Tan See Leng’s remarks, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, extended his sincere appreciation to the Singapore government and the minister. He warmly welcomed Singapore’s commitment to sustainable development in the state.

Naidu acknowledged that his recent discussions with Minister Tan had laid a strong foundation for renewed collaboration between Andhra Pradesh and Singapore in key sectors such as agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, renewable energy, port infrastructure, digital innovation, and skill development.

He also reflected on his long-standing relationship with the Singapore government dating back to the 1990s, noting that Singapore’s partnership has consistently added significant value to the state’s progress. In his Facebook response, he expressed confidence that Singapore’s support would play a crucial role in building world-class infrastructure across Andhra Pradesh.

While acknowledging the disruption in the state’s collaborative journey with Singapore in recent years, Naidu affirmed his government’s renewed determination to pursue comprehensive development, backed by a decisive public mandate. He underscored the state's vision for "Swarna Andhra – 2047", aimed at holistic, long-term growth.

The Chief Minister expressed optimism that with Singapore’s continued cooperation, the coalition government’s urban and rural development plans could effectively meet public expectations. Concluding his statement, he emphasised the importance of mutual respect and enduring partnerships, stating that Andhra Pradesh and Singapore can together drive inclusive progress across multiple sectors.

When the YSRCP came to power in 2019, the government canceled an agreement with the Singapore Consortium, comprising Ascendas Singbridge Pte Ltd (now part of CapitaLand Group) and Sembcorp Development Ltd, to develop the seed capital area in Amaravati.

In 2018, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) under the TDP government had signed a concession and development agreement (CADA) and a shareholding agreement (SHA) with the Singapore consortium to execute the Amaravati Start-up Area Development Project.

The start-up area encompasses 6.84 square kilometers of development land, planned for completion in three phases over 20 years. At that time, more than 15 companies and institutions from Germany, India, Japan, and Singapore entered into Memoranda of Understanding as partners in smart buildings, smart energy, smart environments, and smart collaborations.