New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that ties between India and Jamaica are marked by the four Cs of Culture, Cricket, Commonwealth and Caricom, even as he stated that during the bilateral talks with visiting Jamaican PM Andrew Holness the two sides agreed to further strengthen all aspects of the bilateral ties and also identified many new areas for further cooperation.
In his media statement after holding talks with PM Holness, PM Modi said that India is ready to share its experiences with Jamaica in the field of digital public infrastructure, small industries, bio fuel, innovation, health, innovation, agriculture, as well as in the sphere of space.
He said that it is the first time that a PM from Jamaica is visiting India “and we place special emphasis on this visit”.
“PM Holness has been a good friend of India for long time and I have had the opportunity to meet him several times. And every time I have found in him eagerness to further strengthen relations with India,” PM Modi said.
“I have confidence that along with strengthening ties with him we will also be imparting new energy to our ties with the entire Caribbean region,” he added.
He said the bilateral ties with Jamaica are marked by their shared historical ties and democratic values based on the strong people-to-people ties.
“There is increase in the bilateral trade and investment. In Jamaica’s progress, India has always been a trusted and committed development partner and we have always based them on the needs of the Jamaican people,” the PM said, adding that the ITEC and ICCR scholarships have contributed in the skill development and capacity building of the Jamaican people.
“We are ready to share our experiences in the fields of digital public infrastructure, small industries, bio fuel, innovation, health innovation, agriculture, with Jamaica. In the field of defence, we will further develop our cooperation in helping with the Jamaican army’s capacity building and training.
Organised crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism are our shared challenges, we are in agreement to combat these together,” he added.
“In the field of space, we will be happy to share our successful experience with Jamaica. In today’s discussions we exchanged views on regional and global issues.”
PM Modi said the two nations are in agreement that dialogue and discussion are the way forward for resolution of all discords and tension and both will together keep on striving to work for global peace and harmony.
“Both are in agreement on the need for reform of the UNSC and all multilateral institutions, and we will work towards that. Though our countries are separated by a huge expanse of ocean, but our hearts, our history and culture are joined to each other,” he said, and referred to the Indian indentured labourers who went to Jamaica 180 years ago.
“Around 180 years ago the Indians who went to Jamaica laid the foundation of our strong people to people ties. There are today around 70,000 people of Indian origin in Jamaica,” he said, and thanked the Jamaican PM for looking after them.
“The way Jamaica has embraced yoga, Bollywood and folk music, the same way Jamaica’s reggae and dance are becoming popular in India,” he said, adding that their cultural exchange programmes will bring the two countries closer together.
PM Modi said they have decided to name the road in front of the Jamaican High Commission as Jamaica Marg.
He said that cricket and sports form a very strong connecting link between the two nations, and that Indians have great fondness for Jamaican cricketers including Chris Gayles.
“We have held discussions on further strengthening our ties in the field of sports,” he said.
“I have full confidence that the outcomes of our today’s discussions will give faster pace to our ties than Usain Bolt’s speed and we will continue to scale newer heights,” the PM added.
The MEA spokesperson said in a post on X:
“Scripting a new chapter in bilateral ties.
PM @narendramodi and PM @AndrewHolnessJM of Jamaica held warm and productive talks today.
“The leaders discussed ways to further strengthen ties and enhance cooperation in trade, investment, renewable energy, digital transformation, development partnership, education, capacity building and P2P connect.”
