Dr Denzil Douglas visits India: Strengthens Diplomatic and Economic ties

St Kitts and Nevis: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Denzil Douglas, recently made a six-day visit to India, which is regarded to have played a vital role in firming up the two countries’ relations.

On the 6th of August, the External Affairs Minister of India met with the St Kitts and Nevis counterpart, Dr Denzil Douglas, where discussions were held on defence, security health, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy agriculture, digital public infrastructure and development cooperation.

They also conversated on affairs of the region and the world, reaffirming their solidarity for enhanced collaboration in the international level organizations and decided to meet henceforth in like manner.

The Minister of St Kitts and Nevis also paid visits to several Indian Ministers and Officials to discuss on improvement of Bilateral relations. The visit also comprised of field trips to major research and infrastructural institutions of India.

Some of the outcomes of the visit include a bilateral agreement on sport cooperation, and particularly in the medical treatment and training of athletes as well as signing of an MoU that seeks to have regular consultations between the two Foreign Ministries. Particularly within the context of the coalition of the Global South and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), it underlined the developing diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Bilateral Relations & Meetings

High level consultations and discussions with the Minister of External Affairs (MEA) of India, Dr S. Jaishankar were held during his visit. These talks were focused on the development of the two countries’ relations, especially in the sphere of multiple sectors including the use of renewable sources of energy, technology, education and health.

During the Foreign Minister’s visit to India, two Memorandum of Agreements (MOU) were signed to fortify the bilateral cooperation. One of the MoU signed between Minister Douglas and Indian Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and the later signed between Dr Denzil Douglas and his Indian MEA Dr S Jaishankar.

The first MoU included collaboration on Athlete and Team Training, Coach Training, and exchange programs, while the second MoU focuses on the matters of interchanging digital solutions and innovations to tackle common challenges and improve public services.

The Caribbean nation, which is also seeking ways to develop other sources of income and lesser-known industries such as tourism, the reason being the country regards India as a very important counterpart.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

Of all the points made by Dr Douglas during his visit, the proposal to strengthen the economic and trade cooperation between St Kitts and Nevis and India is regarded to be the most significant. He sought to the India-Caribbean relations and the opportunities for investment in the twin-island nation in areas like renewable energy, farming, and many more.

Other areas of talk also included hope that St Kitts and Nevis could learn from India’s successful experience in pharmaceutical and health sectors, including crises situations.

Strengthening the commitment to Sustainable energy & Climate change

Being a small island developing state, the vitality of renewable energy sources, as well as the effect of climate is what St Kitts and Nevis has to deal with directly. During the Foreign Minister’s visit to India, key topics of the discussion were investment and cooperation in the production of renewable energy sources, in which India has shown a rather high level of development in the recent decade.

They discussed partnership for further investment in joint companies and technologies that would improve St Kitts and Nevis renewable energy industry, its environmental conservation, and its ability to withstand natural disasters.

Cultural and Educational Exchanges

Cultural and educational interchanges cannot be missed as it formed an essential part of the visit. Dr Douglas stressed the need to establish better interpersonal relations and programs were made on the expansion of scholarships to the students of St Kitts and Nevis to undertake studies in India apart from the stimulation of the cultural exchanges meant to enhance understanding of each other’s cultural endowments as well as the promotion of tourism.

Today and future Cooperation

Looking at the historical chain of events, the visit of Dr Douglas to India is a formulation of new era of co-operation of St Kitts and Nevis and India. The deliberations and the outcomes of the discussions, made during the visit, are expected to open the doors for further cooperation in various fields that will help both the countries.

Thus, enhancing relations with India is a good chance to use India’s increasing power and experience in order to stimulate the further sustainable development of St Kitts and Nevis economy.