Modi taps shared culture, cuisine, cricket links to boost India-Caribbean ties

On Wednesday, PM Modi addressed the second India-CARICOM summit in Georgetown, Guyana

India has offered assistance to the Caribbean nations across seven areas in an effort to build on its close development partnership and strong people-to-people ties at the second India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana.

CARICOM, short for Caribbean Community, is a regional organization set up in 1973 and includes 15 nations and dependencies, ranging from larger countries like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago to smaller islands like Saint Lucia and Barbados.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Thursday landed in Guyana on the first visit by an Indian head of state to the country in over 50 years, met with top leaders of Caribbean nations on the margins of the summit and discussed strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation.

Delhi offered assistance in seven areas aligned with the C-A-R-I-C-O-M acronym: capacity building, agriculture and food security; renewable energy and climate change,; innovation, technology and trade; cricket and culture; ocean economy and maritime security; and medicine and healthcare, a government statement said.

In agriculture, Modi offered to help convert the Sargassum seaweed, which poses a major challenge for tourism in the Caribbean, into fertilizer. The seaweed, when it accumulates excessively on beaches, can deter beachgoers due to its odor and appearance.

“In India, we have developed the technology to produce fertilizers from this seaweed. This technology can solve this problem while increasing crop yields,” he said.

“As we look towards the future, it is clear that India and CARICOM countries have a significant opportunity to shape their partnership in response to evolving global dynamics,” he added.

The emphasis on cooperation in renewable energy, healthcare, and cultural exchange will be crucial in addressing everyday challenges while fostering mutual growth, he said.

Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell chaired the summit, while Guyana President Irfaan Ali hosted it.

Guyana was Modi’s last destination in his three-nation official visit that also included Nigeria and Brazil.

While highlighting the shared experiences and aspirations that bind India and the CARICOM countries, Modi said, “India is totally committed to taking India-CARICOM relations to new heights.”

Modi also noted the importance of focusing on the Global South, asserting that “in all our efforts, we have focused on the concerns of the Global South and its priorities.”

He said India and Caribbean countries can leverage their unique strengths to navigate contemporary challenges.

Modi also proposed launching an online portal to connect private sectors across nations, strengthening these ties further and promoting trade, technology, tourism, talent, and tradition.

Since 2019, Guyana’s oil production has increased rapidly and is expected to reach 645,000 barrels per day by the end of the year.

Guyana is expected to become South America’s second-largest oil producer by 2030, next to Brazil.

The first India-CARICOM Summit was held in 2019 in New York. ?Modi has proposed holding the next CARICOM Summit in India.

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