(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana, 22 November 2024) – Energy and infrastructure, agriculture and food security, health and pharmaceuticals as well as technology, innovation and capacity building have been identified among the areas in which the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and India intend to strengthen economic, commercial and diplomatic relations.
Heads of 13 CARICOM countries met with the Prime Minister of India, the Hon. Narendra Modi and agreed on those areas during the Second CARICOM-India Summit held on Wednesday 20 November at the Marriot, Georgetown, Guyana.
CARICOM-India Cooperation in Agriculture
A Joint Statement issued after the Summit highlights the spectrum of future CARICOM-India cooperation. CARICOM and India will work together to develop greater reliance on innovation and technology, including climate smart agriculture. They will also seek to expand agri-business and agri-processing and strengthen transport and logistics support systems in food production. High-yielding seeds, agriculture machinery, and experience-sharing in sustainable agriculture have also been identified as part of future CARICOM-India cooperation in agriculture and food security.
Highlights from the Opening Ceremony
During the opening ceremony, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett said that CARICOM-India cooperation has positively impacted human resource development, healthcare, renewable energy, information and communications technology, and the blue economy. She also highlighted India’s contribution to the CARICOM Secretariat’s information technology infrastructure.
“As our countries continue to navigate the complexities of sustainable development, South-South partnerships, such as ours, are imperative to foster innovative solutions. The Community therefore commends and thanks India for its strong advocacy on issues that are important to our Region,” the Secretary-General stated.
Gratitude for India’s Support to COVID-19 Pandemic Response
The Summit marked the first time CARICOM leaders were meeting Prime Minister Modi face to face, since he gifted the Region its first set of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines in February 2021. The vaccines were donated when CARICOM countries were locked out of global supply chains, limiting their access to those vital supplies to support their pandemic response.
In his remarks, host President, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali expressed the Community’s gratitude stating,
“Prime Minister Modi, on behalf of our Community … thank you and the people of India for your selfless attributes when you delivered to this Region our first set of vaccines during the COVID pandemic.”
Underscoring the significance of the Summit, he said, “this occasion epitomizes the deep, historical, cultural, and diplomatic bonds that unite India and the Caribbean.”
Chairman’s Remarks
Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Grenada, the Hon. Dickon Mitchell lauded India’s proactive and influential role in championing the ideals and aspirations of the Global South.
“We commend India’s unwavering commitment to the Sustainable Development of our Region, especially in this intricate and interconnected era of globalization. It is evident to us that the challenges we face can only be effectively addressed through a spirit of deeper integration and cooperative action among nations. We are particularly appreciative of India’s enhanced engagement in recent years, as it demonstrates a genuine eagerness to fortify our bilateral ties and collaboratively confront pressing issues such as the pervasive Digital Divide,” Prime Minister Mitchell stated.
PM Modi’s Remarks
In his remarks to the Summit, Prime Minister Modi defined India’s support to the Community through the acronym, CARICOM – Capacity Building; Agriculture and Food Security; Renewable Energy and Climate Change; Innovation, Technology, Trade; Cricket and Culture; Oceans Economy and Maritime Security; and Medicine and Healthcare.
Regarding capacity building, Prime Minister Modi said India will expand the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) to an additional 1,000 participants from CARICOM countries over the next five years; scale-up the India-supported Technical Development Centre in Belize to service the Community; and support the creation of a forensic centre in CARICOM.
Mr. Modi said India can offer public sector capacity building by tailoring an Integrated Government Online portal which provides training in technology, law and education in India to CARICOM needs.
Sharing his vision for CARICOM-India cooperation in agriculture and food security, given its important to CARICOM, Prime Minister Modi said the sector can be transformed through technology for drone surveillance and soil testing with India’s support.
The Prime Minister indicated that his country is willing to provide passenger and cargo vessels and enhance capacity in maritime domain mapping and hydrography.
“India will be happy to enhance cooperation in all these areas…these are based on your priorities and your needs. This is the core principle of our cooperation,” the Indian Prime Minister stated.
The Third CARICOM-India Summit will be held in India.
