2nd India-CARICOM Summit:
The Prime Minister of India chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana, alongside the Prime Minister of Grenada, the current CARICOM Chair.
- The first India-CARICOM Summit was held in 2019 in New York.
Key Highlights of the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit:
- India’s Prime Minister proposed seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India and ‘CARICOM’. These pillars are:
C: Capacity Building: India announced an additional 1000 ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) slots for CARICOM countries over the next five years. - A: Agriculture and Food Security: India shared its experience in agriculture, particularly in the use of technology such as drones, digital farming, and farm mechanisation.
- R: Renewable Energy and Climate Change: India called for greater collaboration on global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and Mission LiFE.
- I: Innovation, Technology, and Trade: Prime Minister Modi offered India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and other technological models to improve public service delivery.
- C: Cricket and Culture: India proposed organising “Days of Indian Culture” in CARICOM countries and providing cricket training for young women cricketers from the region.
- O: Ocean Economy and Maritime Security: India expressed willingness to collaborate on maritime domain mapping and hydrography in the Caribbean Sea.
- M: Medicine and Healthcare: India offered its model for affordable healthcare, including the provision of generic medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras and the promotion of Yoga for well-being.
- CARICOM leaders appreciated India’s leadership in championing climate justice for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
- SIDS are responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions but are among the most affected by climate change impacts.
- Climate justice means addressing the unequal and disproportionate impacts of climate change on different communities, particularly the poor, marginalised, and vulnerable groups.
