Companies are pursuing opportunities as support structures expand on the ground
Singapore companies are pursuing long-term growth in India through a more strategic market entry centred on Bengaluru, moving beyond short-term experimentation towards sustained expansion in the country’s technology capital.
The Singapore Business Federation has positioned Bengaluru as the focal point of this shift, launching the Singapore Enterprise Centre at Bengaluru in November 2025 to support companies entering the Indian market.
“Bengaluru is India’s technology and innovation capital, home to a thriving startup ecosystem and strong clusters in manufacturing, IT, and services,” said Samantha Teo, executive director of the International Business Division at the Singapore Business Federation, in comments to Singapore Business Review.
“It offers Singapore businesses direct access to some of India’s most vibrant business networks and a conducive environment for collaboration in advanced manufacturing, digital innovation, renewable energy, and health and wellness,” she said.
The centre marks a move from ad hoc support to a dedicated platform for market entry and long-term growth, according to the federation. It expects to engage more than 470 companies over the next two years through business missions, roundtables, seminars, and capability-building programs.
Singapore has been India’s largest source of foreign direct investment for seven consecutive years, the federation said. Business enquiries related to India also increased between 2023 and 2025.
The centre will help companies navigate trade frameworks including the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area, the federation said.
Singapore companies have also signalled intent to pursue long-term partnerships in India’s high-growth sectors, including sustainability and infrastructure, with opportunities in green hydrogen, net zero industrial parks, business parks and data centres, according to Tan Soon Kim, deputy managing director at Enterprise Singapore.
“Notably manufacturing, especially for Industry 4.0 and semiconductors, is a huge area of opportunity for Singapore businesses,” Tan said in a commemorative supplement released in Singapore on 17 December.
Singapore’s investment into India grew to S$109bn in 2023, up 17% on the year, a trend Tan said is expected to continue alongside India’s rapid economic transformation.
The centre is the federation’s fourth Singapore Enterprise Centre globally and its first outside Southeast Asia. It operates under the GlobalConnect@SBF initiative supported by Enterprise Singapore.
On-the-ground advisers provide regulatory guidance and assistance with incorporation and business matching, with continued support on banking, hiring, fundraising, and operations, Teo said.
Near-term opportunities include growth in e-commerce and digital payments, strong B2B innovation from startups, and rising demand for smart and sustainable urban solutions, she added.
