Antigua & Barbuda Governor-General thanked Indian govt for its support during COVID outbreak

Saint John’s: During his address in the Parliament on January 20, 2022, the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams, appreciated the efforts of the Indian Government for sticking and assisting the island country in its COVID-19 response.

He stated, “India is the country who has always been inspiring and whose leaders inspired others to seek peaceful ways of establishing sovereignty. Most notably, since the COVID-19 outbreak emerged in Antigua and Barbuda, India was the first country to provide us with the thousands of the COVID-19 vaccines, where other states promised but could not delivered the vaccines”.

Following the statement, he underscored the bilateral relationship with the Asian country, noting that India has and is a remarkable friend of Antigua and Barbuda.

Not only to Antigua and Barbuda, but the Government of India has also donated the COVID-19 vaccine jabs to the Latin Americas and Caribbean region countries, including Dominica, Grenada, and Guyana. This has undoubtedly helped the second most-populated nation to strengthen and foster its diplomatic relations with these countries.

Bilateral relations of Antigua and Barbuda with India:

Both the countries share a long-withstanding and friendly bilateral relationship, which has evolved over the past years. Meanwhile, the island shares similarities in views with India on several matters, which are of common concern.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor-General paid a visit to India in the year 2015, where he participated in the 16th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World organized by City Montessori school, situated in Lucknow, the capital city of Indian state -Uttar Pradesh.

Although the trade between both the nations doubled the numbers in the previous years, but it remains at in absolute terms. The Asian country extended economic cooperation helping hand to Antigua and Barbuda under ITEC, where around 11 slots were allocated to the Caribbean island in 2015-16.

Although hundreds of Indian students come to the island country for their education, while several individuals belonging to the Indian communities are engaged in garments, jewellery, pharmaceutical business in Antigua and Barbuda.