Trinidad and Tobago is expected to reap multiple benefits from the two-day visit of India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Dr. Jaishankar arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday and is expected to depart on Saturday.
Speaking in the Lower House on Friday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC noted that Trinidad and Tobago is set to sign several Memoranda of Understanding aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties with India during Dr. Jaishankar’s visit.
She said several agreements stemming from the visit of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Trinidad and Tobago last year will be advanced.
“These agreements established frameworks for cooperation in public sector training, healthcare standards, youth development, cultural exchange and community-based initiatives.”
The Prime Minister said the current visit will also see the signing of additional agreements across a range of sectors, including economic and financial cooperation, bilateral investment and trade, tourism, education, and other areas of mutual interest.
“Collectively, these agreements that we share today reflect the continuing transformation of our relationship, T&T and India, into a deeper strategic partnership centred on practical cooperation, innovation and shared development.”
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar added that the Government of India has presented several gifts to Trinidad and Tobago.
“Prime Minister Modi had pledged to create 2,000 laptops in support of our government’s Secondary Schools Laptop Programme. Today, Minister Jaishankar comes bearing gifts, and these devices, these laptops, will be officially handed over across all seven educational districts.”
She also revealed that India will be donating 20 haemodialysis units and two ambulances to support T&T’s healthcare system.
Following the Prime Minister’s statement in Parliament, Minister Jaishankar was taken to the Red House Rotunda where the MOUs were presented to several Ministers, including Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Sean Sobers.
Dr. Jaishankar noted the MOUs were the result of commitments given by Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Trinidad last year. He also used the opportunity to deliver on another promise made by Prime Minister Modi as he presented laptops to secondary school students.
He said the presentation was about more than just keeping a promise.
“This is awareness, it is opportunity, it is in many ways connecting yourself to all that is happening and today we are in a digital era moving toward artificial intelligence. Our lives are going to change and probably the best thing we can do for our young people is to prepare them for that.”