India and Trinidad and Tobago on Friday inked six agreements to boost cooperation in several sectors following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart from the Caribbean nation, Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Both leaders explored potential collaboration in sectors such as infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, healthcare and digital transformation, unified payments interface (UPI), capacity building and people-to-people exchanges.
The six MoUs will provide for deeper cooperation between India and Trinidad and Tobago in the fields of pharmacopoeia, quick-impact projects, culture, sports and diplomatic training, among others.
In the meeting held on Friday, Prime Minister Modi announced a decision by India to issue Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards up to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora of Trinidad and Tobago, where over 40 per cent of the population is of Indian origin.
PM Modi landed in Port of Spain on Thursday in the second leg of his five-nation tour. It is the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to this Caribbean island nation since 1999.
Significantly, Trinidad and Tobago reaffirmed its full support to India for a permanent membership of an expanded United Nations Security Council.
In her remarks during the delegation-level talks, Bissesar noted that Prime Minister Modi’s “landmark visit” to Trinidad and Tobago will reinvigorate the deep-rooted bilateral ties between the two countries.
“The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The Ministry said Modi and Bissesar agreed to work together for greater solidarity among the countries of the Global South and to strengthen India-CARICOM partnership.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is an intergovernmental organisation of 15 member states in the Caribbean region having the primary objective to promote economic integration and cooperation among the members.
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Prime Minister Modi also met Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo.
On Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with President Kangaloo, the ministry said it was marked by warmth and a reaffirmation of the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.
