Blitz Bureau
INDIA and Jamaica exchanged four Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of digital public infrastructure, cultural exchange and Sports on October1. The MoUs were exchanged after delegation-level talks held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Jamaican counterpart Andrew Holness in New Delhi.
Hailing India-Jamaica ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the relations between the two nations is based on a shared history, and added that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been a long-standing friend of India.
“I welcome Jamaica PM Holness and his delegation…Prime Minister Holness has been a long-standing friend of India. I have had the opportunity to meet him several times and each time I have felt his commitment to strengthen relations with India. I am confident that his visit will give new energy to our bilateral relations as well as our engagement with the entire Caribbean region,” PM Modi said, in a joint press statement along with Jamaican counterpart, Andrew Holness on Tuesday.
“The four Cs characterise our relations, Culture, Cricket, Commonwealth and CARICOM (Caribbean Community). Trade and investment between India and Jamaica are growing. India has always been a reliable and committed development partner in Jamaica’s development journey,” PM Modi added.
PM Modi further stated that India is ready to share its experience with Jamaica in areas such as digital public infrastructure, small-scale industries, biofuel, innovation, health, education and agriculture. He said that India will move forward on the training and capacitybuilding of the Jamaican Army. PM Modi said that India and Jamaica believe that reforms are necessary in all global institutions, including the United Nations Security Council.
PM Modi said that the Government of India has decided to name the road in front of the Jamaica High Commission in New Delhi as ‘Jamaica Marg’.
In his address, Holness said that Jamaica values the strong fraternal ties with India. He said that for almost two centuries now, Indians have made their mark in Jamaica, contributing to the development of Jamaica in various spheres, including health, education, information technology and business.