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EAM Jaishankar Strengthens India-Jamaica Ties with Bilateral Meetings

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on a visit to Jamaica, held a series of meetings with Jamaican leaders and business figures to enhance bilateral cooperation. He called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed deepening political and economic ties, while also gifting 10 BHISHM Cubes for disaster management. Jaishankar met with his counterpart Kamina J. Smith and other ministers to review partnership in sectors like education, health, and digital. He also engaged with industry leaders, emphasizing the need to explore economic cooperation more vigorously.

Key Points: Jaishankar Meets Jamaican Leaders, Boosts India Ties

  • Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM Andrew Holness, discusses cooperation
  • India gifts 10 BHISHM Cubes for disaster relief
  • Bilateral meeting with FM Kamina J. Smith on education, health, digital ties
  • Interaction with industry leaders to boost economic cooperation
2 min read

EAM Jaishankar holds series of bilateral meetings with Jamaican ministers, business leaders

EAM S. Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with Jamaican PM Andrew Holness and ministers, discussed cooperation in various sectors, and handed over BHISHM Cubes for disaster relief.

"The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation. - EAM S. Jaishankar"

Kingston, May 5

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to Jamaica, held a series of engagements in Kingston with the ministers and business leaders of the Caribbean nation, discussing ways to expand cooperation across various sectors.

He called on Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and held a meeting focusing on the economic and people-to-people cooperation.

"Pleased to call on Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM Narendra Modi. Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the EAM said in a post on X.

Additionally, he formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of Jamaican PM Holness, Health Minister Chris Tufton and FM Kamina J. Smith.

"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," he added.

EAM Jaishankar then held a bilateral meeting with his Jamaican counterpart, Kamina J. Smith and other Cabinet Ministers for an in-depth review of the various facets of the partnership between the two nations.

"Discussed taking forward our ties in education and health, agriculture and digital, tourism, sports and entertainment, infrastructure, capacity building, and multilateral issues," he said.

He then interacted with Jamaica's industry and business leaders and met Jamaican Industry Minister Aubyn Hill.

"Emphasised that as we all diversify and seek reliable partners, the imperative to deepen India-Jamaican business ties is that much stronger. The potential for our economic cooperation needs to be explored more vigorously, both for bilateral and regional possibilities," the EAM added.

EAM Jaishankar will also visit Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The MEA said these countries share a special connection with India owing to the presence of Girmitiya communities.

'Girmitiyas' were Indian indentured labourers who left India in the mid to late 19th century to work in British colonies, where many eventually settled. The term 'Girmit' is a mispronunciation of 'agreement', referring to the contract under which they migrated.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

K
Kavya N
Hats off to EAM Jaishankar for this proactive diplomacy! 🇮🇳 Our engagement with the Caribbean is long overdue. The 10 BHISHM cubes show we're a reliable partner in disaster response. But I hope we also focus on boosting trade and investment, not just aid.
S
Siddharth J
It's heartwarming to see the Indian diaspora in Jamaica being celebrated. The Girmitiya connection is a bridge of shared history. But one has to question: are we doing enough to actually support these communities with concrete economic partnerships, or is it just photo ops and handover ceremonies? 🤔
T
Tanya I
Wonderful to see India's soft power in action! The focus on education, health, and digital cooperation is smart. India can offer Jamaica a lot in terms of IT and healthcare. Just hope we follow up with concrete projects and not just MoUs. 🙏
R
Rahul R
As a student of international relations, I think this is a well-calculated move. India is positioning itself as a reliable partner for the Global South. The BHISHM cubes are a great example of 'Make in India' for the world. But we must ensure we're not overstretching our resources while domestic needs remain high.
M
Michael C
As someone from the diaspora living in the US, it's exciting to see India prioritizing the Caribbean. The Girmitiya link is authentic and powerful. However, I wish the article mentioned more about how India plans to support Jamaican farmers and small businesses – that would make the partnership truly sustainable. 🌱

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