India-CARICOM Summit to mark new chapter for Caribbean

The scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Guyana this week culminates in the historic Second CARICOM-India Summit slated for November 20, 2024, to be held in Georgetown.

This marks how increasingly India is focusing on the Caribbean as a strategic partner in areas like technology, health and sustainable development. Moreover, the summit is part of the framework of Modi’s three-nation diplomatic tour that has so far included visits to Nigeria and Brazil.

India-CARICOM ties to fortify

Guyana’s President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali will host the summit, which will see participation from CARICOM leaders and the Indian delegation headed by Modi. The agenda for the summit includes energy, food security, and technology issues with sustainable development and capacity building at the center.

PM Modi is anticipated to outline important initiatives. All at consideration, part of India’s commitment is to help the Caribbean region on matters such as renewable energy and digital transformation.

Addressing the media before the summit, PM Narendra Modi said the CARICOM-India partnership sprang from a common heritage and shared values. His words encapsulate the diaspora connection with Guyana, which he said has one of the oldest Indian communities abroad.

Culture and Diplomatic Milestones

Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Guyana in more than 50 years. During his visit, he will address the Guyanese Parliament, which acts as an indication of how deeply India has engaged with the nation.

The Dominica Award of Honour is to be conferred to PM Modi during this trip. This Award honors India’s work under the Prime Minister over the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitating relations between India and Dominica.

The ceremonies for opening the summit will be graced by CARICOM Chair and Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, and Guyanese President Ali, with Modi being the central character.

Bridging Regions through Shared Vision

Global south cooperation is at the heart of the India-CARICOM partnership, with India utilizing its leadership in the G20 and the vision of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

History should be reset to its better times and may find articulation, with the initiation of this summit, by discussing climate change or making health care more equitable.

Future Outlook

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the way to the Caribbean region with further possible long-term collaborations in mind, to be achieved through the way of joint ventures and consolidated trade.

PM Modi shall reinforce India’s diplomatic presence in the Caribbean by moderating the summit in Guyana and emphasizing how small nations determine global policies.

The summit provides an affirmation of India’s pledge to partnership with regions and presents the Caribbean region as an emerging point of focus for India’s foreign policy.