New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going on a historic visit to the Republic of Guyana from 19 to 21 November 2024. This will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the South American country Guyana since 1968. That means, after 56 years in the form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an Indian PM is going to Guyana. The visit reflects the strong and growing ties between the two countries, which are linked by a shared colonial past, cultural heritage and strategic interests. The visit, at the invitation of President Mohammed Irfan Ali, reflects India’s commitment to deepen ties with Guyana and expand its influence within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Relations between the two countries will become stronger
During this, PM Modi will discuss many important issues with President Ali. In these, mutual cooperation in the fields of energy, defense and culture will be discussed. The two leaders will co-chair the second India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown. This conference will provide a platform to discuss mutual interests, explore economic partnerships and strengthen diplomatic relations between India and the Caribbean countries. Earlier, a fruitful meeting was held during the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India in 2023. In the same meeting, President Ali was honored with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. This award is the highest honor given by India to non-resident Indians and people of Indian origin.
PM Modi will address the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana. This shows how strong the democratic relations are between the two countries. This visit of Prime Minister Modi is coming at an important time when India wants to further expand its global partnerships, especially in America. The CARICOM-India Summit, to be jointly chaired by PM Modi, President Ali and Grenada Prime Minister Deacon Mitchell, will discuss strategic priorities such as combating climate change, sustainable development and economic cooperation within the Caribbean region.
The visit will also provide an opportunity for Prime Minister Modi to connect with the people of Indian origin in Guyana, who remain the cornerstone of India’s influence and cultural ties in Guyana. The presence of a large Indian community in Guyana has been instrumental in shaping Guyana’s political, economic and cultural landscape as well as promoting bilateral goodwill.
Expanding defense and security partnerships
In recent years, India has made significant contributions to Guyana’s defense capabilities to strengthen regional security cooperation. India provided two Dornier-228 aircraft to the Guyana Defense Force under a $23.37 million line of credit to enhance the country’s aerial surveillance and disaster response capabilities. This support is part of broader cooperation in defence. As is evident from the exchanges between military officers of the two countries aimed at capacity building and joint training initiatives.
India’s ‘Make in India’ program further facilitates Guyana’s access to affordable high quality defense equipment. This will help in promoting regional stability as well as strengthening the security infrastructure of the country. It is expected that this partnership will grow further in the future, as both countries want to deepen defense manufacturing and maritime cooperation.
Strategic focus on energy and economic development between India and Guyana
Energy has emerged as an important issue in the relations between India and Guyana. Especially after large oil reserves were discovered in Guyana in 2015. India, the world’s third largest oil consumer, sees Guyana as a long-term partner to diversify its energy sources. This partnership gained further momentum in 2021 when India received the first consignment of oil from Guyana. It symbolizes a promising path for bilateral trade and cooperation. Indian firms, known for their expertise in renewable energy and biofuel production, can play an important role in supporting Guyana’s sustainable energy goals.
The proposed partnership between Engineers India Limited and Guyana for consultancy on Guyana Integrated Natural Gas Liquefied Plant and Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant is another example of India’s involvement in Guyana’s energy sector. An agreement for consultancy services is expected to pave the way for future cooperation. This also includes ethanol production from sugarcane in Guyana which is in line with India’s established ethanol production industry.
The cultural and historical ties between India and Guyana are very deep. There is a large population of people of Indian origin in Guyana, which acts as a bridge between the two countries. More than 3,27,000 people of Indian origin live in the Caribbean country of Guyana, making it the largest ethnic group in the country. The two countries maintain close cultural exchanges through the Indian Cultural Center in Georgetown, which promotes Indian art forms, dance and language.
Prime Minister Modi will pay tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Promenade Garden of Georgetown. It symbolizes the shared ideals of peace and non-violence. They will also see the Indian Arrival Monument. It honors the first ship that brought Indian indentured laborers to Guyana in 1838. This momentous event marked the beginning of a long-lasting Indo-Guyanese legacy.
India and CARICOM
India’s partnership with CARICOM, the regional grouping of 15 Caribbean countries, is a strategic effort to promote stronger ties in the Western Hemisphere. The India-CARICOM Summit will provide a platform to discuss collective goals in areas such as climate resilience, disaster response and economic integration. Guyana has recently joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). This coincides with India’s focus on sustainable growth and strong infrastructure.
Through partnership in healthcare, agriculture, IT and infrastructure, India and CARICOM countries want to solve common challenges as well as advance their mutual economic interests. CARICOM has also shown interest in India’s digital and healthcare technology sectors, which could lead to further business opportunities and development projects in the region.
Education and capacity building initiatives
India is committed to education and skills development in Guyana. This is clear from many scholarships and training programs. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Program has helped more than 900 Guyanese gain expertise in various sectors. Additionally, thousands of scholarships are offered to Guyanese students under online programs at Indian universities, including Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). It is offered under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) initiative. This further strengthens the relations between the two countries in the field of education.
new path for the future
The way new avenues of cooperation are opening between India and Guyana. In such a situation, this visit of the Prime Minister will lay a strong foundation of strategic partnership between the two countries. This will benefit both the countries economically, culturally and geopolitically. With shared interests in defence, energy and cultural heritage, India-Guyana relations are set to touch new heights. This partnership promises a future of mutual development and cooperation in the Caribbean region and beyond.
Tags: PM Modi, Pm narendra modi, Special Project, World news
FIRST PUBLISHED : November 14, 2024, 1:17 PM IST