Coconut Drinks with Prasoon

I meet up with Prasoon regularly and always, at his request, at Shangri la, by the poolside.

We try to catch up about once a month and it is always to talk about affairs in Singapore and in India.

Both of us were invited to be in Mexico during this period as the Singapore President was visiting Mexico with a trade delegation and the Mexican Ambassador had wanted us to be there.

I was tempted initially since I have never been there and it was going to be a high level delegation visiting Mexico. I started checking the flights there and then gave up. I would have to travel on ANA with a 12 hour layover in Tokyo on the return leg. I think Prasoon must also have felt the trip was not worth making.

I first met Prasoon when our former PM was leading a delegation to India. It must have been 2017 or 2018. I was introduced to him at the SQ lounge in Singapore and he very kindly invited me to a dinner he hosted in New Delhi on that trip.

He is well connected in India. His uncle was a very senior Congress Minister and later became the President of India. I have met many people through him. And as he makes it a point to know the ambassadors here in Singapore, I have also gotten to know a few as well.

He travels a bit and it is always good catching up and hearing from him the latest thinking on current issues in India.

Yesterday evening was another such catch up. He feels Singapore and India can do much more together with the right people fronting it. I tend to agree. Competency is important but connections and building relationships is vital in the long term.