India and Jamaica today exchanged four Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of Digital Public Infrastructure, Cultural Exchange and Sports. These MoUs were exchanged after delegation-level talks held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Jamaican counterpart Dr Andrew Holness in New Delhi. In a joint press statement, Prime Minister Modi said that India accords special importance to the visit of the Prime Minister of Jamaica as for the first time Dr. Holness has come on a bilateral visit to India. Mr Modi added that India and Jamaica relations are based on our shared history, democratic values and strong people-to-people ties. Prime Minister 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 added that India will move forward on the training and capacity building of the Jamaican Army in the field of defence. Speaking about organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, the Prime Minister said that these are the common challenges and both sides agreed to face these challenges together.
Mr Modi said both sides will continue their efforts to ensure global peace and stability. He added that India and Jamaica have a common opinion that reforms are necessary in all global institutions including the United Nations Security Council.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi further informed that the Government of India has decided to name the road in front of the Jamaica High Commission in New Delhi as ‘Jamaica Marg’. He added that India and Jamaica may be separated by vast oceans, but our people, our culture and our history are linked to each other.
In his address, the Prime Minister of Jamaica said that Jamaica values the strong fraternal ties with India since our Independence. 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.
In the morning, Dr Holness paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his samadhi in Rajghat. He also planted a champa sapling there.
Tomorrow, the Jamaican Prime Minister will visit Varanasi.
Dr Holness arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a four-day official visit.
Later briefing media, Secretary East in Ministry of External Affairs Jaideep Mazumdar said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted during the talks that the India-Jamaica relationship is defined by four Cs- culture, cricket, Commonwealth and Caribbean. He said, the Jamaican Prime Minister acknowledged the contribution made by Indians in the development of Jamaica. There are about 70 thousand diaspora of Indian origin who have been in Jamaica for more than 150 years. The Secretary said Mr Modi proposed that since next year, 2025, is the 188th year of the arrival of Indians in Jamaica, it should be suitably commemorated by both countries. He said it was warmly accepted by Mr Holness.
Mr Mazumdar said, in a special gesture, Mr Holness presented Mr Modi a photo from the latter’s visit to Montego Bay, Jamaica in 1999. Mr Modi had travelled to Jamaica during the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit for the G-15 meeting in the Caribbean nation. In the photo, Mr Modi is seen interacting with Indian diaspora members in Jamaica who had hosted him.
Mr Holness called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Welcoming Prime Minister Holness on his first visit to India, President Murmu said that Jamaica holds a special place in the hearts of Indians, especially with the shared love of cricket and music. She added that the Indian diaspora in Jamaica is also a very important link in the relationship. The President was happy to note that India-Jamaica relations are growing steadily, including in the areas of trade and economy. The two leaders agreed that there is a need to continue to deepen the partnership at various levels through parliamentary, academic and cultural exchanges, as well as cooperation in international fora. President Murmu appreciated Jamaica’s participation in all three editions of the Voice of the Global South Summits organized by India. She noted that both countries are strong advocates for reform of multilateral institutions including the UN Security Council and have been working together as part of groupings such as the L-69 to achieve this. The President expressed confidence that Prime Minister Holness’s visit will further boost ties between the two countries.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica also called on Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar today. Discussions between the two leaders centred around the shared values, cultural links and historical ties that underline India-Jamaica relations. They also focused on areas like south-south collaboration including India’s flagship Indian technical and economic cooperation program effectively used by Jamaica for capacity building and the desire of Jamaica to replicate India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, UPI and high economic growth trajectory. Jamaica also expressed interest in cooperating in the education, technology and innovation sectors.
