Trinidads Prime Minister Discusses Economic Cooperation with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar

United Nations, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar at the United Nations on September 23 to discuss enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations.

In a post on social media platform X, she stated, “We discussed strengthening T&T-India relations through increased economic cooperation, trade growth, and funding from the Exim Bank for development projects. Our longstanding friendship continues to flourish.”

Jaishankar expressed his pleasure at meeting the Prime Minister and highlighted the progress made on commitments from Prime Minister Modi’s visit last year. During that July trip, Modi agreed to provide 2,000 laptops for key educational programs in Trinidad, revive academic positions in Hindi and Indian studies at the University of the West Indies, and supply prosthetics for 800 individuals.

Additionally, India signed a memorandum of understanding for Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), committing to fund five projects annually with $50,000. Another agreement involved the establishment of a solar photovoltaic system for electricity generation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Notably, Trinidad is home to approximately 575,000 people of Indian descent, making up about 42 percent of the country’s population. Modi’s visit coincided with the 180th anniversary of Indian immigrants arriving in Trinidad and Tobago in 1845.

Earlier in May, during Jaishankar’s two-day visit to the Caribbean nation, India and Trinidad and Tobago signed eight agreements covering various sectors, including tourism, healthcare, infrastructure, and Ayurveda.

Jaishankar noted that agreements were signed for solar energy integration at the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Foreign Affairs, vector control, upgrading infrastructure on Nelson Island, and establishing an Indian chair for Ayurveda at the University of the West Indies.