India's PM Narendra Modi Promises Collaboration With CARICOM

Collaboration in cricket, culture, climate change and agriculture were among the major topics put forward by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking at the Secnd CARICOM-India Summit in Guyana on Wednesday. Prime Minister Modi said cricket is an important connecting link between India and the CARICOM region dating back since 1983 when India beat the West Indies in the World Cup Final to take the trophy. He noted that Indians back home have a special attachment to cricketers from the West Indies, and vowed to cooperate with Caribbean cricketers. "To further promote not only cricket relations, but also women empowerment. We can provide training to 11 young women cricketers from each CARICOM nation." Prime Minister Modi touched on the issue of Sargassum seaweed affecting the tourism aspect in many islands of the Caribbean, noting that India can lend assistance. "We have developed a technology to make fertiliser using seaweed. This technology can, not only help you to solve this problem but can also help to increase crop yield." He also urged the CARICOM region to consider growing millets, which he said could help with food security. "Millets are a superfood that can grow in any type of climate. For CARICOM countries as well this can become an effective means of addressing climate change and also improving food security." Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, hailed the continued collaboration between India and CARICOM, hoping that the decisions from the Summit will advance into action. "The ties between India and the Caribbean are deeply rooted in shared history and enduring cultural connections. Guyana, like some other Caribbean nations, owes much of its rich cultural tapestry to the arrival of indentured immigrants from India." Chair of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, said India’s relationship with CARICOM is a critical one. "We remain convinced more than ever that closer linkages between CARICOM and our trusted partner, India, are part of the very necessary medication and intervention needed by the Caribbean Community to better equip it and its citizens to overcome our existing developmental challenges." Prime Minister Modi also promised to organise an event in all CARICOM nations called ‘The Days of Indian Culture.’ "Keeping in view the popularity of Bollywood, we can also organise film festivals along with CARICOM countries."