PM Modi attends India-Caricom summit, announces $14 million grant

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met leers of Caribbean Community and Common Market in first-ever India-Caricom summit, with a focus on fighting climate change and increasing India's participation with grouping. Just ahe of India-Caricom Leers' Meeting on sidelines of 74th UN General Assembly Session, Modi said Wednesday it is an important initiative and he thanked participants for attending it.

In a press release, government said that PM Modi reiterated India’s firm commitment to strengn its political, ecomic and cultural engment with CARICOM. He also recalled presence of more than a million-strong Indian diaspora as a vibrant and enduring link of friendship with Caribbean. 

Outcome of meeting

He said he expects discussion during meeting takes into consideration past experiences, present requirements and aspirations of future. He outlined focus of meeting: fighting climate change and increasing India's participation with Caricom nations. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted a picture of Prime Minister with leers or representatives of Caribbean countries attending meeting.

meeting deliberated on strengning political and institutional dialogue processes, boosting ecomic cooperation, increasing tre and investment and fostering greater and more robust people-to-people relations. PM Modi also laid emphasis on partnering with CARICOM countries in capacity building, development assistance and cooperation in disaster manment and resilience. 

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Investment in region

PM Modi anunced a USD 14 million grant for community development projects in CARICOM and ar 150 million Line of Credit for solar, renewable energy and climate- change related projects. He also anunced setting up of Regional Center for Excellence in Information Techlogy in Georgetown, Guyana and Regional Vocational Training Center in Belize by upgring existing India-funded centers in se countries.

"Underscoring our historic & warm ties with Caribbean countries, PM @narendramodi is hosting India-Caricom Leers' Meeting on margins of #UNGA. Leers or representatives of 14 Caribbean countries attending," Kumar tweeted.

Leers from Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbos, Belize, Dominica, Grena, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenines, Suriname, Trinid and Tobago attended summit.

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Meeting with business leers

Earlier in day, Modi h meetings with Shell CEO Ben van Beurden, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, Boeing Defense, & Security CEO Leanne Caret. Modi h separate meetings with Marriott Hotels President & CEO Arne Sorenson, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, Walmart President & CEO Douglas McMillon & Chairman & CEO of Coca Cola James Quincey.

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