- PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Guyana in 56 years.
- He will address a special session of Guyana's parliament.
- Participation in the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit is also on the agenda.
- India has established strong developmental partnerships with Guyana.
- Future collaborations in various sectors are anticipated.
Historic Diplomatic Milestone
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history by visiting Guyana after a gap of 56 years. The visit of PM Modi is now turning out to be a major diplomatic milestone for the India-Guyana relationship. Upon his arrival, PM Modi was given a Guard of Honour, which spoke about the warm welcome from the Guyanese government.
Addressing Guyana's Parliament
During his visit, PM Modi will address a special session of Guyana's parliament. This meeting is not only ceremonial but also underlines bilateral relations and the mutual respect between the two countries. The Prime Minister is expected to outline several collaborative efforts and future cooperation.
Attending the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit
Apart from the parliamentary address, PM Modi will also attend the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit where leaders from Caribbean nations meet to discuss regional cooperation and developments. India's presence in the community is growing important for the Caribbean region.
India enhances its ties with Guyana
This visit is consequent to an invitation from the President of Guyana, as indicated by the Ministry of External Affairs. According to the Secretary (East) of the Ministry, Jaideep Mazumdar, interactions between India and Guyana have stepped up lately at a high level. The Chief Guest for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January 2023 was the President of Guyana. So the development partnership seemed to hold good.
India has developed a long-term developmental cooperation with Guyana in the areas of health, connectivity, and renewable energy. Major cooperation includes: an ocean-going ferry from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and two HAL 228 aircraft given under line of credit. Also, India has solar-lighted almost 30,000 indigenous homes, which also marks another developmental endeavor.
Past, Present, and Future Collaborations
Mazumdar pointed out that there will be further cooperation in several sectors, including hydrocarbons, healthcare, education, and defense. He pointed out that Guyana is at present the world's fastest-growing economy and has many opportunities for India to be involved in multilateral cooperation.
Future Initiative
PM Modi's visit to Guyana is a landmark event that not only strengthens bilateral relations but also opens doors for future collaborations in various sectors. As both nations look towards a promising future, this visit is a testament to their shared goals and aspirations.
History of Relations between India and Guyana
India and Guyana have established diplomatic relations in 1965, a year before Guyana gained independence in 1966. The two countries have kept up friendly relations which have been accorded in the fields of trade, culture, and education. Some of the early visits have been by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1968, and Vice Presidents Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1988 and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in 2006.
Although old connections existed, a felt sense of delayed contact existed; however diplomatic relations took place pretty rapidly following Guyana's independence. Cultural Linkages are pretty strong since around 30% of the population in Guyana is Indian and cricketing still forms one of the prime pillars connecting them as a heritage. The Indian Cultural Centre in Georgetown since 1972 supports furtherance of cultural relations and mutual understanding between these two nations.
With inputs from agencies
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