Days after the HRD ministry struck down a proposal of IIM-Bangalore to open a branch abroad, senior Singapore minister Goh Chok Tong is still ready to co-operate and collaborate with premier institutes in the city. He visited the National Institute of Design (NID) on Monday and expressed interest in promoting collaborative research projects between NID and institutes in Singapore.
His statement bears significance as it comes a day after his remarks on the Indian government’s decision on an IIM-B campus in his country.
NID already has an understanding with one of the institutes in Singapore to provide exposure to its students and faculties. The institute is not averse to having collaborative research projects with institutes there. ‘‘South East Asia has a lot of common issues to be tackled. Its time to rise up to the occasion and have collaborative projects with Singapore institutes,’’ said Akhil Succena, Activity Chairperson (Education), NID.
Sources said the minister was on his goodwill visit to the institute and was impressed by its model, which provides 14 different disciplines of design under one roof. He took a round of the campus and Dr Darlie Koshy, Executive Director, NID made a presentation on the ongoing activites at the institute.
Said Succena, ‘‘The minister was informed about the activities of NID. He was here to get first hand information on what the institute is doing. NID participated in a design conclave in Singapore in November 2005 and after that it was in conversation with one of the institutes there. A delegation from Singapore also visited NID after that.’’
Later in the day, the minister also met Chief Minister Narendra Modi and showed his willingness to collaborate with the Gujarat Government in various areas. Interacting with members of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the minister said trade between India and Singapore stood at $6377.67 million and his country emerged as the third largest foreign direct investor in India.