Marking 60 years of diplomatic relations, H.E. Dr. Shilpak Ambule and Ms. Hwang Yu-Ning plant a sapling in Singapore’s Botanical Gardens under the #Plant4Mother campaign, reinforcing a shared commitment to environmental sustainability.
Singapore, 20 February 2025 – A tree-planting ceremony took place at the Singapore Botanical Gardens, where H.E. Dr. Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, and Ms Hwang Yu-Ning, CEO of N Parks Singapore, planted a sapling together. This initiative was part of the #Plant4Mother campaign, an environmental movement encouraging individuals to plant trees in honour of loved ones, fostering a deeper sense of care and responsibility towards nature.
The ceremony symbolised the strong environmental collaboration between India and Singapore, aligning with Singapore’s OneMillionTrees movement and India’s wider conservation efforts. It also served as a significant gesture to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
H.E. Dr. Ambule highlighted the campaign’s ethos, stating, “Our Prime Minister came up with this idea that everybody should plant a tree in the name of their mother or their dear one, so that you can care for that tree the way you care for your relatives or your mother. And this also goes very well with Singapore’s idea of planting 1 million trees by 2030. The aim is environmental conservation and mitigating climate change. This planting together symbolises collaboration and boldness.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ms Hwang Yu-Ning remarked, “It’s an opportunity for us to commemorate the 60 years of diplomatic ties with India. The planting of this tree is very apt because it is native to India and cultivated in Singapore. There are many echoes in what we do, like the 1 million trees movement. It’s about building community and nature stewardship, inspiring people to embrace nature-based solutions.”
The event underscored the importance of bilateral environmental cooperation, reaffirming both nations’ dedication to sustainable urban development and ecological preservation.
Source: IN Diplomacy Reporters
