Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Good evening.
2. It is a privilege to be part of two significant events today – the SMU Visionary Series and the launch of the 4th Singapore-India Hackathon. Today's occasion is especially meaningful as it coincides with SMU's 25th anniversary, and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India.
3. In just a quarter of a century, SMU has grown from a bold new 'experiment' into a vibrant, world-class institution, focused on Asian insights. It has distinguished itself through innovative teaching, generated impactful research, and established itself as a convenor of ideas – bringing together leaders from industry, academia and government to tackle relevant and complex issues of our time.
4. The SMU Visionary Series is one of many successful platforms that SMU has curated, which affirms SMU's role as a hub for dialogue, innovation and collaboration in the region and beyond.
5. It is hence timely and significant that SMU will be hosting the 2026 Singapore-India Hackathon, as we commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore.
6. Over six decades, our two nations have forged a partnership rooted in trust and shared aspirations in trade, innovation, education, and people-to-people ties. Today, our collaboration continues to deepen across emerging domains such as skills development, digitalisation, sustainability, connectivity, healthcare, cultural exchanges, and defence and security. This commitment was reaffirmed when Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Prime Minister Narendra Modi adopted the Roadmap for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September this year.
7. This year will be the fourth iteration of the Singapore-India Hackathon, which symbolises our shared belief in the power of youth and innovation. By bringing together Singaporean and Indian youth to tackle real-world challenges, the Hackathon builds bridges between our people and our industries. It nurtures global perspectives and cultural fluency, which are essential qualities for navigating an increasingly interconnected world. In this milestone year, the Hackathon re-affirms Singapore and India's shared commitment to empower our youth to think boldly, act collaboratively, and contribute meaningfully on the world stage.
8. Moving forward, we hope to see even stronger partnerships and collaborations between our institutions, industry partners, and youth communities. By working together, we can co-create more avenues for innovation and cross-cultural learning.
9. I would like to express my appreciation to SMU for hosting this evening's event and creating invaluable opportunities for our youth. I would also like to thank His Excellency Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and India's All India Council for Technical Education for their continued partnership for the Singapore-India Hackathon.
10. I look forward to new friendships, fresh insights, and even stronger Singapore-India relations for many more years to come.
11. Thank you.