On 20th November 2024, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India and Dickon Mitchell, PM of Grenada and the current chairperson of the Caribbean Community(CARICOM) jointly chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana.
- The CARICOM Summit was hosted by Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana.
- The summit included discussions on key areas of cooperation, cultural programs and bilateral meetings.
Background:
i.The first edition of India-CARICOM Summit was held in 2019 in New York, the United States of America (USA).
ii.The 3rd India-CARICOM Summit is set to be hosted in India.
Participants:
Sylvanie Burton, President of Dominica; Roosevelt Skerrit, PM of Dominica, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname; Dr. Keith Rowley, PM of Trinidad & Tobago; Mia Amor Mottley, PM of Barbados; Gaston Browne, PM of Antigua & Barbuda; Dickon Mitchell, PM of Grenada; Philip Edward Davis K.C., PM & Minister of Finance of Bahamas; Philip J Pierre, PM of St. Lucia; and Ralph Everard Gonsalves, PM of St. Vincent.
Highlights:
i.PM Modi offered assistance to CARICOM countries in seven key areas. The key areas will promote the close bonds of friendship between India and CARICOM. The 7 Key areas are,
- C: Capacity Building
- A: Agriculture and Food Security
- R: Renewable Energy and Climate Change
- I: Innovation, Technology and Trade
- C: Cricket and Culture
- O: Ocean Economy and Maritime Security
- M: Medicine and Healthcare
ii.PM Modi announced that 1000 more ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) slots for CARICOM countries over the next 5 years.
iii.He also shared India’s experience with embracing technology like drones, digital farming, farm mechanization and soil testing in the agriculture domain.
iv.PM Modi has also urged members to join the International Solar Alliance(ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE and Global Biofuel Alliance.
v.He also announced training in India for 11 young women cricketers from each of the CARICOM countries and proposed to organise “Days of Indian Culture” in member countries in 2025 to strengthen people-to-people ties.
vi.CARICOM leaders appreciated India’s leadership of the Global South and its strong support for climate justice for the Small Island Developing States(SIDS).
India & Trinidad and Tobago signed MoU to strengthen ties in digital transformation
During the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit, Union Minister S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) and Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen ties in digital transformation in the presence of PM Modi and Keith Rowley.
- PM Modi and Dr. Keith Rowley, PM of Trinidad & Tobago held talks on the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit.
- They also discussed progress in bilateral relations including collaboration in security, health, transportation, agriculture, capacity building, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties.
- India and Trinidad and Tobago also exchanged an MOU on food processing.
Guyana Officially Commissions Two Dornier Aircraft from India
Two Dornier HAL-228 aircraft were officially commissioned into the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps at a ceremony held at Air Station London, Timehri, Guyana. This marks the first-ever Defence Line of Credit(LoC) extended to a Caribbean nation.
- The aircraft were showcased on the sidelines of the summit.
i.These Dornier 228 aircraft, twin-engine turboprop maritime patrol planes which were delivered earlier in 2024 were a part of a USD 23.37 million Defence LoC from the Indian government.
ii.The aircraft were manufactured by Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
iii.This will strengthen maritime and aerial surveillance capabilities of Guyana.
About Caribbean Community(CARICOM) :
i.CARICOM is a group of 21 countries: 15 Member States and 6 Associate Members. This includes both island states and mainland territories like Suriname and Guyana.
ii.CARICOM was founded in 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas by four founding members of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
iii.The CARICOM Secretariat is located in Georgetown, Guyana.
