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Categories: Economy

INDIA WANTS TO ASSIST CARICOM, BUT WHERE IS T&T?

INDIA wants to collaborate with Caricom in a wide range of areas.

But Trinidad and Tobago, once the head-and-shoulders leader in the region, is playing only a nominal role, with little apparent interest.

India is proposing assistance in renewable energy, industrial development, climate change, small business, digital transformation, food security, healthcare, and more.

The four-day visit by India’s powerful External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Guyana and his public pledges illustrate the abiding commitment to cooperate.

Jaishankar said India wants to create “a partner group” to work on projects in Caricom.

He detailed a wide number of industries and new technological and other developments and invited regional countries to participate.

“Renewable energy is our collective interest,” he observed.

India is utilising various agencies, including the highly-regarded Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, and has already assigned US $150 million in credit to the region.

ITEC, in particular, is involved in capacity-building.

Jaiahankar told Caricom Foreign Ministers that India could customise programmes “which are completely dedicated only to the requirements” of the region.

Equipment, training and technical assistance are in India’s generous package.

The minister spoke of his country’s “cost-effective generics,” which he made available to Caricom.

There are about 600 such plants in India.

“We would like to create a regional hub for that,” Jaishankar stated.

He said that India “can take domains or any areas” which are of specific interest to Caricom.

He spoke of the establishment of the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India, which is open to incorporating traditional practices from all over the world.

The minister said his country is open to collaborating with the Caribbean Agriculture Research Institute.

Generally, Jaishankar outlined India’s willingness to partner with Caricom on major programmes that are of specific interest and benefit to the region.

He spoke against the backdrop of his country’s fast-growing economy and its ambition to become the third-largest and a fully developed country within the next few years.

India also currently leads the G7, the world’s biggest economies.

Guyana has been spearheading relations with India on industrial development, with President and Vice President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo respectively, travelling to Delhi for talks.

During Jaishankar’s visit, both countries signed an air services agreement that facilitates commercial flights.

T&T’s Foreign Minister Amery Browne is the national representative in discussions, but there are no top-level contacts and seemingly little attraction toward multi-sectoral collaboration.

Trinidad and Tobago has the largest Indian diaspora in the region, but the current administration has not bolstered relations with that giant and resourceful country.

Ken Ali

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