Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Culture

09-February-2015 17:22 IST

Culture Minister of Singapore Mr Lawrence Wong meets his Indian counterpart Dr Mahesh Sharma

Cultural Exchange Agreement between the two countries to be renewed soon : Dr Mahesh Sharma

A delegation led by the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth of Singapore , Mr. Lawrence Wong met the Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma in New Delhi today. Secretary (Culture), Mr. Ravindra Singh and other senior officials of the Union Ministry of Culture were also present at the meeting.

Highlighting the importance of Indian culture in Singapore, Mr. Wong said that India and Singapore enjoy close cultural ties and there is a good number of Indian community there. Mr. Lawrence Wong said that with so much diversity, India is practically a continent and that Singapore tourists definitely want to see more of it. The people of Singapore respond very well to exhibitions on Indian themeand a Buddhist exhibition will travel to Singapore this year while a Chola Exhibition is proposed to be held next year, he added. He disclosed that a new Indian Heritage Centre has been built in Singapore to hold such exhibitions. A new National Gallery will also open in Singapore in November in which his country would like to show case Indian art, he added.

Mr. Wong expressed hope that the cultural cooperation will also find an important place in the agreement on strategic partnership expected to be signed during the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to Singapore this year.

The Culture and Tourism Minister, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that the Cultural Exchange Agreement with Singapore which expired in December last year will be renewed soon and the officials on both sides are working on it. Dr. Sharma expressed happiness that Buddhist Centres are coming up in different parts of the world. The Minister added that India is upgrading its tourist infrastructure and has undertaken a Clean India Campaign and E-Ticketing of Museums to facilitate and promote tourism in the country. Dr. Sharma said that the Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s emphasis on Culture and Tourism will be taken forward through exchanges between the two countries. The Minister agreed to further extend the loan by ASI of 9 artifacts to the Asian Civilization Museum in Singapore beyond the 10 years period. He also assured to lend support for the proposed Chola exhibition in the form of exhibits and artefacts. Dr Sharma also assured the support for Singapore for their bid at UNESCO to declare the Singapore Botanic Gardens as the World Heritage Site.

Secretary (Culture), Mr. Ravindra Singh said that a 40 member troupe from Manipur will visit Singapore soon to give cultural performances.

NB/NV/PS