New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) Trinidad and Tobago has become the first Caribbean nation to adopt the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), India’s flagship digital payment platform, while both countries agreed to explore further collaboration in the digital domain, including implementation of India Stack solutions like DigiLocker, e-Sign and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
This was done during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently-concluded two-day official visit to Trinidad and Tobago on July 3-4.
According to a Joint Statement issued on the conclusion of the visit, Trinidad and Tobago requested support from India in digitization and upgradation of the system for state land registration. The two countries also underlined that digital governance and public service delivery could act as enablers of inclusive development, innovation and national competitiveness.
Prime Minister Modi who held talks with his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart Ms Kamala Persad-Bissessar, lauded her ambitious vision of digitizing education and announced a gift of 2,000 laptops to support Trinidad and Tobago’s flagship educational programme.
The visit, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 26 years, coincided with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago in 1845. “It reaffirmed the deep-rooted civilizational ties, vibrant people-to-people linkages and shared democratic values that form the bedrock of the longstanding friendship between the two nations,’’ the Joint Statement said.
In recognition of Prime Minister Modi’s “exceptional leadership’’, both within India and on the global stage, he was conferred the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – the country’s highest national honour.
The two Prime Ministers held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and acknowledged the common threat posed by terrorism to peace and security, reiterating their strong condemnation of and resolute opposition to terrorism. They declared that there could be no justification for terrorism, including cross-border terrorism.
The two leaders reaffirmed the need for comprehensive reforms in the United Nations, including expansion of the United Nations Security Council, to better reflect current global realities.
While recognizing the rising geopolitical tensions and global conflicts, both leaders called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. Trinidad and Tobago reaffirmed its full support to India for permanent membership of an expanded United Nations Security Council. It was also agreed that India would support Trinidad and Tobago’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027-28 while Trinidad and Tobago would support India’s candidature for the period 2028-29.
Prime Minister Modi announced India’s decision to issue Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards up to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora of Trinidad and Tobago.
They also exchanged views on regional and international developments and reiterated their shared commitment to peace, climate justice, inclusive development, and amplifying the voice of the Global South.
Reaffirming their resolve to build a broad-based, inclusive and forward-looking partnership in areas like health, ICT, culture, sports, trade, economic development, agriculture, justice, legal affairs, education and skill development, they welcomed the signing of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in key sectors including pharmaceuticals, development cooperation, academia, cultural exchange, diplomatic training and sports.
The leaders identified agriculture and food security as another priority area. India also presented agro-machinery worth 1 million US Dollars for food processing and storage to Trinidad and Tobago’s National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO). Prime Minister Modi, during a symbolic ceremony, handed over the first batch of machinery for NAMDEVCO and also offered India’s assistance in areas of natural farming, seaweed-based fertilizers and millet cultivation.
On healthcare, Prime Minister Modi commended the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for recognizing Indian Pharmacopoeia to ensure closer collaboration in pharmaceutical sector and improved access for the people of Trinidad and Tobago to quality and affordable generic medicines from India as well as provision of medical treatment in India.
He also announced that in the coming months a prosthetic limb fitment camp for 800 individuals will be organized in Trinidad and Tobago. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed Trinidad and Tobago’s gratitude for the donation of twenty (20) Haemodialysis Units and two (2) Sea ambulances from the Government of India to assist in the provision of better-quality healthcare.
Welcoming the signing of MoU on Quick Impact Projects, which will enable implementation of community development projects in Trinidad and Tobago in a timely and effective manner with India’s assistance, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar appreciated India’s quick response and valued supply of Covid vaccines and medical equipment to Trinidad and Tobago. She especially appreciated India’s support under the 1 million US Dollar (High and Low Technology (HALT) in the COVID-19 project’, with supply of mobile healthcare robots, telemedicine kits, and hand hygiene stations.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed Trinidad and Tobago’s decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuel Alliance, reflecting their shared commitment to climate action, resilience building, and sustainable development.
The leaders agreed to explore further collaboration in early warning systems developed by India for disaster risk reduction.
Capacity building was recognized as an important pillar of India’s partnership with Trinidad and Tobago and Prime Minister Modi expressed willingness to support Trinidad and Tobago in building capacities of officials and personnel of Trinidad and Tobago in the field of forensic science and the justice system, including by sending them to India for training as well as sending trainers and experts from India to Trinidad and Tobago.
The two leaders celebrated the strong sporting ties between the countries, especially the shared passion for cricket and Prime Minister Modi reiterated his offer to train aspiring young women cricketers from Trinidad and Tobago in India.
Prime Minister Modi announced training for a cohort of Pundits from Trinidad and Tobago in India who would also participate in the ‘Geeta Mahotsav’ in India. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar supported the Indian proposal for jointly celebrating Geeta Mahotsav in Trinidad and Tobago coinciding with the celebrations in India.
Prime Minister Modi offered to send Yoga trainers from India and support inclusion of Yoga in the national school curriculum of Trinidad and Tobago.
Both Prime Ministers recalled that 30 May 2025 marked the 180th anniversary of the arrival in 1845 of the first Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago and recognized the importance of Nelson Island as a location for Cultural Tourism and the need for Digitisation of Indian Arrival and other Records at the National Archives.
Both Prime Ministers welcomed the revival of Academic Chairs in Hindi and Indian studies at the University of the West Indies. Both leaders underscored the need to revive the India-Trinidad and Tobago Parliamentary Friendship Group, training of Trinidad and Tobago Parliamentarians in India; and regular exchange of visits by Parliamentary delegations to each other countries.
UNI
