India and Jamaica Strengthen Bilateral Ties with Focus on Trade, Energy, and Development

New Delhi, October 1 - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness held bilateral talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday, discussing ways to strengthen ties and enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, renewable energy, digital transformation, education, and people-to-people connections.

Following delegation-level discussions, both leaders addressed a joint press conference and oversaw the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between India and Jamaica.

During the event, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the strong foundation of India-Jamaica relations, rooted in shared history, democratic values, and close people-to-people ties. He noted that the two nations are united by culture, cricket, the Commonwealth, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Modi also announced that the road in front of the Jamaican High Commission would be named "Jamaica Marg," symbolizing the path to deeper friendship and cooperation for future generations.

Modi emphasized India's commitment to Jamaica’s development, offering support in areas such as digital public infrastructure, small industries, biofuels, innovation, healthcare, education, and agriculture. He added that India is prepared to share its expertise in these sectors and continue providing military training and capacity-building for Jamaica's defense forces. Modi further stressed that trade and investment between the two countries are on the rise, and India is committed to supporting skill development and capacity-building initiatives through ITEC and ICCR scholarships.

Both leaders expressed mutual agreement on the need for reforms in global institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, and pledged to collaborate on tackling shared challenges such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Modi also mentioned India’s willingness to share its successful experiences in space technology with Jamaica and expressed optimism about strengthening cooperation in sports. He humorously remarked that the results of the discussions would help elevate the bilateral relationship to new heights at a speed faster than that of Usain Bolt.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness described India as a true friend and partner, particularly during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. He announced Jamaica’s decision to join the Global Biofuel Alliance, an initiative led by the Indian government. Holness added that their talks covered a range of topics, including healthcare, agriculture, digital transformation, film, education, sports, and tourism. He praised India’s commitment to multilateralism and reflected on his participation in the Voice of the Global South Summit under India’s G20 Presidency.

Holness also congratulated India on its recent achievements, including its victory in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup held in the West Indies and its gold medal win at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad. He acknowledged the significant contributions of the Indian community to Jamaica’s development in areas such as healthcare, education, IT, and business. Holness also mentioned the cultural impact of the Indian community on Jamaica’s cuisine, music, and dance, and noted that Jamaica observes Indian Heritage Day annually on May 10 to commemorate the arrival of the first Indians in 1845.