Both sides emphasised their commitment to strengthening ties in the bilateral and international arenas

India and members of CARICOM (Caribbean Community) are looking at expanding cooperation, particularly in trade & investment, as they work towards post-pandemic recovery.

This and other subjects of mutual interest were discussed at the 4th India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on the sidelines of of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday.

India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration of Belize co-chaired the meeting.

The foreign ministers of Barbados, Dominica, Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname were also present.

The meeting was a follow-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic interaction with the CARICOM leaders in September 2019 at the UNGA.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides expressed happiness at the steady progress in cooperation between India and countries of the CARICOM. They also reviewed the implementation of the announcements made during Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with the leaders of CARICOM in 2019

Against the backdrop of the post-pandemic economic recovery, the two sides had discussions on enhancing political engagement and boosting trade, investment, and collaboration.

"Both sides also deliberated on development partnership and capacity building including through tailor made and specialized training courses and deputation of experts based on the requirements of the CARICOM countries" the MEA said.

The leaders of CARICOM recognized and expressed gratitude for India's support during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was demonstrated by the provision of necessary drugs and vaccinations.

They also discussed potential areas of collaboration between the two sides, such as health and pharmaceuticals, traditional medicines, IT and ITES capacity building, culture and sports.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing cooperation in the international fora. They agreed to work together on global issues such as food and energy security, combating climate change as well as disaster management and resilience, the MEA noted.

"They highlighted the role played and the contributions made by the large and vibrant Indian diaspora who continue to serve as an enduring link of friendship between India and the Caribbean region. They agreed to work towards further strengthening people to people contact and cultural links," the MEA added.

According to the MEA, the fourth India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers' Meeting emphasized the two sides' commitment to strengthening their ties in both the bilateral and international arenas.