First India-Caribbean Summit – 2019

Prime Minister Modi met the leaders of the Caribbean Community on 25^th September, 2019, in New York. The meeting focused on fighting climate change and increasing India’s participation in the grouping

At the meeting, PM Modi announced 14 million USD grant for community development projects in the region. He also extended 150 million USD of line of credit for renewable energy, solar and climate change related projects.

Leaders and representatives of the Caribbean countries Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Tobago and Trinidad attended the meeting. Modi also invited the countries to join ISA (International Solar Alliance) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient infrastructure.

Why did India initiate the summit?

Carricom economies are highly dependent on trade. They are Single Market Economies. It means the economies allow free movement of goods, labor and services within the community. Hence, the return on investment is faster. Caribbean is home to more than 1 million Indian diasporas. The countries are rich in oil and petroleum.

Carricom Grouping

Carricom is Carribean Community whose establishment was a 15-year struggle. It was inspired by the emerging European community. After multilateral trade agreements like Central American Common Market, 1960 and Latin American Free Trade Agreement, 1960 and Andean Pact, 1969, Carricom was established in 1973. The Carricom Grouping has 15 member states and 5 associate members. They came together to form an economic and political community.

15 members of the grouping include Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, Jamaica, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, St Lucia, Tobago and Trinidad. The associated members include Bermuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Cayman Islands.

India – Carricom relations

The first meeting of India – Carricom Foreign ministers was held in 2005. Since then, the trade between India and Carricom began to grow. India exports 16 million USD worth goods to the Carricom countries according EXIM report 2010. It includes transport equipment, machinery, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, metals, etc. The imports from the countries include 1.5 million USD worth goods. They are mostly metal scraps and wood products. Though the countries are rich in oil, India is currently not importing oil from Carricom countries.

The first India-Caribbean Conclave was held in 2009. In the conclave the potential areas of investment in the countries like small scale industries, water pumps for irrigation, medicine, etc were identified.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2019