The President of Dominica Sylvain Burton honored PM Modi with 'The Dominica Award of Honour'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been honored with 'The Dominica Award of Honour' by the Caribbean country of Dominica in Guyana. President of Dominica, Sylvie Burton, presented the award to PM Modi. This award has been given to PM Modi for delivering vaccine to Dominica during the Kovid-19 epidemic. He has dedicated this award to all Indians.
Apart from this, during his two-day visit to Guyana, PM Modi also participated in the second India-CARICOM summit with representatives of the Caribbean countries.
At the summit, the Prime Minister held bilateral discussions with representatives of the Caribbean countries. Apart from Guyana President Mohammad Irfan, PM Modi also interacted with Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Suriname President Chan Santokhi.
After the conversation, PM Modi and President Irfan also addressed the people. President of Guyana said-
Having PM Modi here is the biggest honor for us. He is a champion among leaders. Modi has shown great leadership. has shown light to the developing world. That method of development has been adopted, which many people are adopting in their country.
Modi thanked President Irfan for welcoming him to Guyana. He said that President Irfan has a special relationship with India. He is the brand ambassador of the Indian community.
The PM said that he has visited Guyana after almost 24 years. Earlier he came to Guyana for a personal visit as a layman. This is the visit of an Indian PM to Guyana after 56 years.
PM Modi with representatives of Caribbean countries at the India-CARICOM Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President of Guyana Mohammad Irfan.
Important points of PM Modi in his address:-
- India has contributed significantly to the skill development of the people of Guyana. We will continue this cooperation.
- India will continue to contribute to the capacity building of Guyana's troops through scholarships and training.
- Last year, we contributed to food security by providing millets. Now we will also help in cultivation of other crops.
- An MoU has been signed to enhance cooperation between the agricultural institutions of the two countries.
- India to open Jan Aushadhi Center in Guyana
After the address, PM Modi and President Irfan planted trees.
Modi arrived in Guyana after attending the G20 Summit Earlier, PM Modi reached Guyana on Wednesday morning after the G-20 summit meeting in Brazil. President of Guyana Mohamed Irfan and Prime Minister Antony Phillips arrived at the airport to welcome him in a break from protocol in the capital Georgetown. Around a dozen cabinet ministers also welcomed PM Modi along with him. He was also given a guard of honor at the airport itself.
PM Modi will be honored with the highest national award 'The Order of Excellence' in Guyana. Apart from this, Barbados will also honor him with the 'Honorary Award of Freedom of Barbados'.
PM Modi was welcomed with a cultural presentation at Georgetown Hotel.
On reaching the hotel in Georgetown, people of Indian origin gave PM Modi a warm welcome.
PM Modi is on a state visit to Guyana on November 20 and 21. He is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Guyana in 56 years. Before him, Indira Gandhi went to Guyana in 1968. PM Modi will address a special session of the Parliament of Guyana. He will also participate in the CARICOM-India Summit.
After the discovery of oil and gas mines in Guyana in 2020, its GDP is growing at a rate of about 40% annually. Due to this it has become a center of trade and investment. In such a scenario, during his visit to Guyana, a deal regarding energy and defense resources may be struck between PM Modi and President of Guyana Mohammad Irfan Ali.
40% of Guyana's population is of Indian origin. The ancestors of President Mohammad Irfan Ali himself were brought to the Caribbean country on a British ship.
In January last year, the President of Guyana, Mohammad Irfan Ali, visited India as the chief guest at the Indian Tourist Convention. Vice President Bharat Jagdev also came to India in February 2023. Guyana Prime Minister Mark Phillips also visited India in February this year.
Natural gas and oil deposits near Guyana Guyana is a member of CARICOM, a group of 21 Caribbean countries. The group works to promote economic, political and social integration among Caribbean countries. Guyana is also known as the “Food Bank of the Caribbean”. Also, Guyana's strategic location is enhanced by its proximity to the Panama Canal.
According to a World Bank report, Guyana has an estimated 11.2 billion barrels of oil reserves and 17 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. After the discovery of natural gas and oil reserves in 2020, the per capita income here crossed $18,199.
Relations between Guyana and India
The Indian Commission was established in May 1965 in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Indira Gandhi visited Guyana in 1968, two years after independence. In 1988 the then Vice President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma and in 2006 the then Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat paid a state visit to Guyana.
Total India-Guyana mutual trade in 2023-24 was US$ 105.97 million. India exported $99.36 million to Guyana during this period.
As of May 2024, Guyana was producing about 645,000 barrels of crude oil and gas. Keeping this in mind the Oil and Natural Gas arm 'ONGC Videsh' is also continuously looking for opportunities here. Earlier this year, India approved a five-year MoU with Guyana to cooperate in hydrocarbons, including crude oil sourcing.
Guyana's Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud hailed Modi's visit to Guyana as an important milestone in relations between the world's two fastest-growing economies. Energy and defense agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries during the visit. Bilateral talks can also take place on infrastructure, food security, health and technology.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
