The Indian Scholars’ Association (ISA) brought together more than 350 participants and over 25 speakers from government, diplomacy, business, technology and academia for the inaugural Straits Connect 2026, aimed at strengthening connections between Singapore, India and the wider community.
Held on Aug 22 at Amara Sanctuary Sentosa under the theme Integrating Communities, Creating Impact, the day-long conclave sought to go beyond a conventional business conference by connecting established leaders, young professionals and students while encouraging collaboration and social impact.
Guest of honour Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Manpower, highlighted the scale of Singapore-India economic ties.
Singapore is India’s largest source of foreign direct investment, accounting for almost a quarter of cumulative FDI inflows since 2000, while bilateral trade stands at about US$60 billion. He also pointed to opportunities emerging from the fourth India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable, held on Aug 21.
But Mr Dinesh stressed that economic links alone cannot sustain the relationship.
“Economic treaties and capital flows provide the framework, but people-to-people relationships provide the substance for the soul of our bilateral ties,” he said.
Describing ISA members as a “living bridge” between Singapore and India, he noted that many had arrived as students before building careers, businesses and families here, while maintaining networks spanning both countries.
He said such professionals could help Singapore companies understand India’s market and assist Indian businesses and startups looking to use Singapore as a base for Southeast Asia.
At the same time, he emphasised that integration must work both ways. Those choosing to live and build their lives in Singapore, he said, should make deliberate efforts to participate in its multicultural society and contribute beyond their immediate communities.
ISA president Rahul Singh said this idea of building bridges was central to the association’s decision to launch Straits Connect.
“We are here to build bridges: an international bridge between Singapore and India, a generational bridge between alumni and students, and a socio-economic bridge between the privileged and those that may have fallen behind,” he said.
Mr Rahul said ISA saw an opportunity for a different kind of platform in Singapore – one bringing together policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders, students and the Indian community across generations and sectors.
The response to the inaugural edition, he added, demonstrated an appetite for such conversations, with senior leaders sharing the room with students and young professionals.
A highlight was an unusual diplomatic panel featuring three High Commissioners of Indian origin – India’s Dr Shilpak Ambule, Canada’s Paul Thoppil and Britain’s Nik Mehta.
Moderated by veteran Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, the discussion examined shifting geopolitics through three different national perspectives.
Mr Rahul said their shared heritage alongside their different national identities illustrated how the Indian diaspora had become increasingly global.
“Heritage does not mean having a single worldview,” he said, noting that each diplomat represented the interests and perspectives of his respective country.
Other discussions explored leadership, careers of the future and the intersection of technology and society. Speakers included former DBS chief executive and current SMU chairman Piyush Gupta and World Toilet Organisation founder Jack Sim.
Social impact was another component. ISA made a contribution to the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), reflecting its belief that professional success should also translate into giving back to society.
Mr Rahul said this philosophy was rooted in ISA members’ own experiences of benefiting from education and opportunities in Singapore.
Founded in 2022, ISA brings together people with roots in India who have benefited from Singapore’s education system, including alumni of NUS, NTU and SMU.
Following the inaugural event, ISA hopes to make Straits Connect an annual platform.
Mr Rahul said the ambition was not simply to make it bigger, but more meaningful – turning conversations into concrete collaborations in education, entrepreneurship, technology, investment, talent development and social impact.
