New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with the foreign ministers of the CARICOM group, comprising 15 Caribbean nations and discussed ways to strengthen India-CARICOM relations. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, food security, digital governance, climate resilience, and energy collaboration.
Following the meeting held on September 23, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in a post on ‘X’, “Delighted to join Caribbean colleagues for the India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York today. Special thanks to CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett and Suriname’s Foreign Minister Melvin Bouva for conducting the meeting.”
He stated that during the meeting, emphasis was placed on our shared history and the solidarity forged through the challenges of development. It was noted that projects involving Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) have been completed in several Caribbean countries, while others are currently underway.
Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) provide funding and other resources for projects that can be implemented quickly and deliver tangible benefits to local communities.
In the medical sector, he noted that India organized camps for fitting artificial limbs, donated haemodialysis units, and provided compact medical ‘Bhishm Cube’ units to select CARICOM partners. The ‘BHISHM Cube,’ developed by India, is a portable hospital system designed for deployment in disaster-affected areas.
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana have significant populations of people of Indian origin, reflecting the history of Indian migration to the Caribbean. India also shares a history of colonial rule with the other CARICOM countries.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India provides training programmes to countries of the Global South across various sectors, particularly in digital technologies, and urged CARICOM countries to utilise the training slots offered by India. He also offered customised training programmes in areas of their interest.
While reviewing India’s assistance to CARICOM nations, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar noted that it has boosted the deployment of solar energy in the region and urged them to consider joining the ‘International Solar Alliance’ and the ‘Global Biofuels Alliance’. Both organizations are headquartered in India and promote alternative energy sources for sustainable development as well as strategies to combat climate change.
