INDIA-CARICOM RELATIONS

Description

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Context: India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations have agreed to work together on global issues such as food and energy security and combating climate change, as they held discussions on deepening political engagement and increasing cooperation in the context of post-pandemic economic recovery.

Details:

The 4th India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration of Belize co-chaired the meeting.
The meeting was a follow-up to Prime Minister’s historic meeting with the leaders of CARICOM countries on the sidelines of the UNGA in September 2019, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.
The two sides held discussions on deepening political engagement, and increasing trade and investment and cooperation in the context of post-pandemic economic recovery.
The two sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing cooperation in the international fora. They agreed to work together on global issues such as food and energy security, combating climate change as well as disaster management and resilience, the release said.
Both sides also deliberated on development partnership and capacity building including through tailor-made and specialised training courses and deputation of experts based on the requirements of the CARICOM countries, it said.
CARICOM leaders acknowledged and thanked India’s solidarity during the pandemic expressed through supplies of essential medicines and vaccines.
The two sides also discussed potential areas of cooperation such as health and pharmaceuticals, traditional medicines, IT and ITES capacity building, culture and sports.
They highlighted the role played and the contributions made by the large and vibrant Indian diaspora who continue to serve as an enduring link of friendship between India and the Caribbean region. They agreed to work towards further strengthening people-to-people contact and cultural links.

Background:

In 1972, Commonwealth Caribbean leaders at the 7th Heads of Government Conference decided to transform the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) into a Common Market and establish the Caribbean Community, of which the Common Market would be an integral part.
On 4 July 1973, they signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community in Trinidad & Tobago.
CARICOM has 15 members – Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. Of the 15, all except Montserrat are nation States. Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands are Associate Members of the Community.
The Chairmanship of the Community is rotated every six months among the member countries Heads.
Between 1993 and 2000, the Inter-Governmental Task Force (IGTF) which was composed of representatives of all Member States, produced nine Protocols, for the purpose of amending the Treaty.
These nine Protocols were later combined to create a new version of the Treaty, called formally, ‘The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas’ heralding the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. The CARICOM Single Market and Economy is intended to benefit the people of the Region by providing more and better opportunities to produce and sell goods and services and to attract investment.

India – CARICOM:

India’s political engagement with CARICOM as a group started with the visit of a CARICOM delegation led by K.D. Knight, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Jamaica and the then Chairman of the Community Council, to India in November 2003, during which an agreement was signed for establishing a Standing Joint Commission on Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination.
Later in February 2005, India was invited as special guest to the CARICOM Summit in Paramaribo.
Subsequently, India-CARICOM Economic Forum was held in August 2005.
On the occasion, a project for computerization of CARICOM Secretariat valued at US$ 1.3 million, funded by India, was completed and handed over to the CARICOM Secretariat.
India’s historic and warm relations with the countries of the Caribbean witnessed a new momentum with the meeting of PM Modi with 14 leaders of the CARICOM countries on the UNGA sidelines on 25 September 2019 in New York, during which PM Modi announced USD 14 million Grant for Community Development Projects (CDP) in the CARICOM (1 million for each country) and another 150 million Line of Credit for projects related to Solar, Renewable Energy and Climate Change.
He also announced the setting up of a Regional Centre for Excellence in Information Technology in Guyana, Georgetown and a Regional Vocational Training Centre in Belize by upgrading the existing India-funded Centres in these countries.
In order to assist in their fight against COVID19, India had sent medical assistance worth INR 16 Crores to 27 LAC countries including to all CARICOM members.