Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Grenada, who is the current Chair of CARICOM, chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana.
The first India-Caricom summit was held in New York in 2019.
Highlights of the 2nd India-Caricom Summit:
7 Pillars of Cooperation:
The Prime Minister of India proposed seven key pillars for strengthening relations between India and CARICOM. These pillars are:
C: Capacity building
India announced an additional 1000 ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) slots for CARICOM countries over the next five years.
A: Agriculture and Food Security
India shared its experiences in agriculture, especially in the use of technology such as drones, digital agriculture and farm mechanization.
R: Renewable Energy and Climate Change:
India called for greater cooperation on global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and Mission LiFE.
I: Innovation, Technology and Trade:
Prime Minister Modi offered India’s digital public infrastructure and other technological models to improve public service delivery.
C: Cricket and Culture:
India proposed to organise “Indian Culture Day” in CARICOM countries and provide cricket training to young women cricketers of the region.
O: Ocean Economy and Maritime Security:
India expressed willingness to cooperate on maritime domain mapping and hydrology in the Caribbean Sea.
M: Medicine and health care:
India introduced its own model for affordable healthcare, including provision of generic medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and promotion of Yoga for Health.
Climate Justice:
The CARICOM leaders appreciated India’s leadership in promoting climate justice for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
SIDS are responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions but are most affected by the effects of climate change.
Climate justice means addressing the unequal and disproportionate impacts of climate change on different communities, especially poor, marginalized and vulnerable groups.
Awards to Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the top awards of Guyana and Barbados during his visit.
Guyana was awarded the “Order of Excellence” and Barbados the “Honorary Order of Freedom.”
Recently, Dominica also announced its highest national award, the “Dominica Award of Honour” for Prime Minister Modi.
Prime Minister Modi’s list of international awards now includes 19 prestigious honours.
Notable awards include Russia’s “Order of St Andrew the Apostle” and America’s “Legion of Merit.”
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM):
CARICOM is a group of 21 countries:15 Member States and 6 Associate Members, including Island States and mainland territories such as Suriname and Guyana.
CARICOM was established in the year 1973 with the signing of the Chaguaramas Treaty by four founding members- Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Diversity:
This community is made up of people from African, Indian, European, Chinese, Portuguese and indigenous backgrounds.
Population:
There are about 16 million people living there and 60% of them are under the age of 30.
Languages:
The region is multilingual, with English as the main language, in addition to French, Dutch and various African and Asian languages.
Geographical Extent:
The member countries extend from the Bahamas in the north to Suriname and Guyana in the south, making it a vast and diverse region with varying levels of economic and social development.
They are mainly located in the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean).
The pillars of integration of CARICOM:
The integration of CARICOM is based on four main pillars, which guide the objectives of the Community:
Economic Integration:
Enhancing growth and competitiveness through trade and productivity.
Foreign Policy Coordination:
To present a unified voice in international diplomacy.
Human and Social Development:
Focus on health, education and poverty alleviation.
Security:
Strengthen regional security, disaster response and crime prevention.
India-Caricom relations:
A Caricom delegation visited India in November 2003, resulting in the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission.
India’s High Commissioner in Georgetown (capital of Guyana) has also been appointed Ambassador to CARICOM, reflecting its commitment to regional cooperation.
The first India-Caricom Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (2005) laid the groundwork for closer cooperation, especially in areas such as trade and development projects through the Caribbean Development Bank.
The first India-CARICOM Joint Commission (2015) meeting was held in Georgetown, resulting in a boost to trade partnership between India and CARICOM countries.
India-Caricom Ministerial meetings are held regularly, and notable events are held during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Providing Humanitarian Assistance: In 2017, following hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, India provided USD 200,000 in emergency assistance and additional support through the India-UN Partnership Fund for South-South Cooperation.
The India-CARICOM Summit (2019) was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, wherein India expressed its commitment to support the CARICOM countries.
Grants of US $14 million: community development projects.
Loan assistance of US $150 million: Especially for solar energy and climate change projects.
Specialized training programs: In line with the requirements of the CARICOM countries, India introduced special capacity building programmes.
India-Caricom Task Force: It was established to revive cooperation by streamlining and upgrading ongoing initiatives and establishing clear strategies for the future.
Why are India and CARICOM important to each other?
Strategic Expansion:
The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region is diversifying its geopolitical relationships and exploring new partnerships in Asia, in line with India’s ambition to increase its presence in the region.
Common Climate Concerns:
India and CARICOM are facing the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather.
India’s COP-26 efforts are in line with CARICOM’s call for climate finance for mitigation and adaptation.
International Solar Alliance (ISA):
ISA, co-founded by India, provides a platform for CARICOM countries to enhance solar energy deployment.
Additionally, the One World One Sun One Grid (OWOSOG) initiative is an innovative approach to creating a global grid that can transmit solar energy across continents.
Digital health collaboration:
India’s digital health advancements, such as CoWin and the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), offer a model for improving health care systems in CARICOM, especially for climate-induced health hazards.
Biofuels and Energy Cooperation:
India’s cooperation with Brazil in biofuel research can be extended to CARICOM countries, creating a platform for joint energy solutions and biofuel production.
A strong partnership:
The visit of the Prime Minister of India and India’s ongoing development assistance programmes, such as the contribution of US $1 million to the CARICOM Development Fund, lay a strong foundation for future cooperation.
Conclusion:
The 2nd India-Caricom Summit marked an important step in deepening bilateral ties, focusing on areas such as renewable energy, climate change, healthcare and economic growth. This cooperation offers enormous opportunities to address shared challenges, particularly climate change and sustainable development, enhancing India’s role in the Caribbean region.
