Saint Lucia and India have discussed boosting ties in several areas, including tourism, technology, healthcare, pharma, and sports.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, held bilateral talks on the margins of the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-India summit in Guyana.
“Saint Lucia looks forward to strengthening its diplomatic relations with India for the benefit of both our countries,” Pierre wrote on Facebook.
For his part, the Indian Prime Minister, in an address to CARICOM leaders, proposed enhancing regional connectivity.
As the state-owned Chronicle newspaper reported, Modi proposed that India supply passenger and cargo ferries to the region.
Regarding agriculture, he explained that India had developed technology to make fertiliser with seaweed, which could help the region deal with its sargassum problem.
“This technology cannot only help you to solve this problem, but can also increase crop yield. India is ready to share all these experiences with CARICOM countries,” Modi said.
The Indian leader listed seven key pillars for building ties with CARICOM and increasing their relationship.
The pillars, forming the acronym C-A-R-I-C-O-M, are Capacity Building, Agriculture and Food Security, Renewable Energy and Climate Change, Innovation, Technology and Trade, Cricket and Culture, Ocean Economy and Medicine and Healthcare.
