Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a two-day visit to Guyana, the energy-rich nation with strong historic cultural ties with India through a large diaspora, on Tuesday.
He will co-chair the India-CARICOM summit, with 14 nations participating, underscoring India's role as the voice of the Global South that supports the political and economic aspirations of those countries.
"India is an important global actor. Our Member States are eager to see Prime Minister Modi and work out deeper technical relationships, take the relationship to a level of stronger advocacy for small states on the global level, and strengthen people-to-people ties," CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General Elizabeth Solomon was quoted as saying by Antigua Newsroom.
PM Modi said in a statement previewing the visit that he will pay his respects to one of the oldest Indian diaspora, who migrated more than 185 years ago.
"We will exchange views on giving strategic direction to our unique relationship, which is based on shared heritage, culture and values," he said.
Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said, "The visit underlines the historically strong relations between India and Guyana."
Wednesday, the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit will be co-chaired by Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
CARICOM is the group of the Caribbean countries and the first summit was held in 2019 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly where India offered a $150 million credit line for climate change and renewable energy projects.
Beyond cultural ties, PM Modi will look towards Guyana for India's energy security as this small Caribbean country has emerged to become one of the major petroleum and gas powerhouses.
Guyana's oil and natural gas resources estimate is a staggering 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels by the US Energy Information Agency-that is, more than three times that of Kuwait.
The discovery of oil reserves, most of which are offshore, has provided much interest in the country to several countries and multinationals.
Guyana could play a role in India's quest to diversify its energy sources.
People of Indian descent make up 39.8 per cent of the population of the multi-ethnic country, with Hindus at 28.4 per cent of the largest religious community.
These are the descendants of the people brought over by the British Raj starting in 1838 as indentured labourers to work on sugar plantations or those who came over as traders or to work in other occupations.
According to Jaggdeo, PM Modi will visit the Indian Arrival Monument which marks the arrival of the first ship carrying Indian indentured labourers to the Caribbean in 1838.
PM Modi will address Guyana’s Parliament and speak to the Indian community and the diaspora.
Ali visited India last year as the chief guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.
PM Modi will be the first Indian prime minister to visit the country since Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s visit in 1968.
India has been helping Guyana in several projects, such as $25 million National Cricket Stadium, which was the venue for the T20 World Cup Cricket this year.
Also, India has aided in the setting of a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT).
The trade between the two countries has been $223.36 million in 2021-22, with Guyana's exports amounting to $156.96 million, which was boosted by energy products.
Read also| Palestine Expresses Gratitude to India for $2.5 Million Aid Support
