Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other Trinidad and Tobago government ministers on Monday attended bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, after which several key memoranda of understanding were signed.
Five agreements were signed at the end of the delegation-level talks between both prime ministers. These focus on developments in the areas of air transport, culture, education, traditional medicines, agriculture and technical cooperation.
Singh highlighted the need for both countries to identify innovative ways of enhancing their economic ties. He noted that the joint commission meeting held at the end of November 2011 identified a number of areas for expanded trade and investment, most notably the energy sector.
He explained that India needs an assured and reliable energy supply, and that Trinidad and Tobago is well placed to meet India’s energy needs: “An energy delegation from Trinidad and Tobago would therefore be welcome.”
Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farook Abdullah stated that his ministry stands ready to share its expertise and offer training in solar and wind energy. It is expected that a demonstration unit will soon be set up in Trinidad and Tobago.
Air links are to be established between Trinidad and Tobago and India following the signing of a bilateral air services agreement (BASA). This BASA allows designated air carriers to operate flights connecting destinations in each country.
Singh also expressed his gratitude for the current visa waiver offered by the Trinidad and Tobago Government to Indian nationals and agreed that Trinidad and Tobago would act as a gateway for India to the wider Latin American market, thanks to its trade agreements with several Latin American countries.
Persad-Bissessar raised the issue of visa-waiver reciprocity to which the Minister of External Affairs, Shri S.M. Krishna responded that this would be considered at an upcoming joint commission meeting.
Education was the focus of another MoU. Singh, at the joint media briefing with Persad-Bissessar, stated that strong cultural and education links between the two countries provide the foundation for their relationship.
“The technical cooperation agreement in the field of education and the cultural exchange programme signed today will facilitate greater academic and cultural exchanges” stated Singh.
The University of the West Indies was one of the signatories to an MoU.
Bilateral technical cooperation through exchange of experts will also be improved, with the government of India agreeing to enhance the annual ITEC scholarship slots for Trinidad and Tobago from the current 30 to 50. Singh noted that the Indian IT industry is eager to expand cooperation through the Indian Technical Cooperation Fund and that a joint commission on ICT could provide a framework for cooperation in this sector.
Singh stated that over the next six to eight weeks India will send a delegation of IT experts, companies and education experts to see how to advance bilateral cooperation and increase 3G capacity in Trinidad and Tobago.
A MoU for co-operation in traditional medicines between India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago was also signed. The signing of the MoU provides a legal framework for the cooperation between the two countries for the promotion of Indian traditional medicine in Trinidad and Tobago. The main objective of the MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
Persad-Bissessar welcomed all offers of technical support offered by Singh, particularly initiatives in the coconut industry to deal with the red palm mite disease and ITEC exchanges.
Persad-Bissessar emphasised the need for renewed enthusiasm in the field of agriculture. The prime minister also expressed her gratitude to the Indian government for land at Pushp Vihar in New Delhi, which was donated to the Chancellery and the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission.
A joint statement at the end of the delegation level talks between Singh and Persad-Bissessar stated the two leaders also discussed global issues, including terrorism, climate change and the reform of the United Nations.
At the end of the bilateral meetings a banquet was hosted by Singh in honour of the prime minister and her delegation from Trinidad and Tobago, along with other specially invited guests.
