The News Minute | August 23, 2014 | 12:08pm IST

Singapore : Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Friday said his country hopes to work with India in areas of infrastructure and education, and expressed his desire to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi who "came in with a thumping mandate", a media report said.

Speaking at the opening day gala dinner in Global Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Alumni conference, IIMPACT 2014, here, Lee said he was optimistic about bilateral cooperation with India on areas like urban and port development, water and sewage projects, as well as education and training, The Straits Times reported.

He noted that new Indian prime minister has a majority in the Lok Sabha, which is "something that has not happened for a very, very long time".

Over 1,000 alumni, many of whom are leaders in multinational and major Indian companies, from the IIM network of prestigious business schools in India attended the conference.

Lee, who spent an hour answering questions from the audience on developments in the region, said: "There are great hopes for India to take the next step forward. India is a massive country so you do not expect transformation within 100 days.

"But we do hope that it will be going in a positive upward and accelerated direction, connecting to the world, fulfilling its potential, attracting investments, engaging with the global trading system, and playing a role, also strategically, in the wider region." 

IANS