Prime Minister Attends CARICOM-Saudi India Summit

Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Keith Rowley joined regional Heads of Government for the second CARICOM-India Summit in Georgetown, Guyana today (Wednesday 20th November, 2024).

The Prime Minister of India the Hon. Shri Narendra Modi announced seven pillars of support for CARICOM at the summit. The areas highlighted for cooperation were capacity building, agriculture, renewable energy, information technology, cricket and culture, ocean economy and maritime security, medical and healthcare.

Prime Minister Modi identified the provision of cargo and passenger ferries to enhance the region’s connectivity, cancer treatment equipment, the establishment of drug testing labs, an increase in the number of technical scholarships and training for the region’s women cricketers as some of the specific areas for collaboration with CARICOM.

Prime Minister Rowley along with other CARICOM leaders expressed gratitude for India’s generosity and affirmed their commitment to continuing to strengthen this relationship.

Dr Rowley said India is among one of Trinidad and Tobago’s oldest friends with diplomatic cooperation spanning several decades. He proposed the establishment of a standing committee of CARICOM and India to ensure that the proposed initiatives are implemented.

Prime Minister Rowley and Prime Minister Modi also met today for bilateral discussions where detailed discussions focused on deepening and strengthening ties in cybersecurity training, digital transformation and national security.

CARICOM Heads of Government and India’s Prime Minister last met in 2019 in the margins of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where they discussed cooperation modalities in renewable energy and climate change through a US$150 million credit line from India.

Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Senator the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Reginald Armour SC and Minister in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal accompanied the Prime Minister to today’s meetings.