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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises continued trade and investment in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday in an address to the nation’s parliament.
“It’s time for us to work together to give the global south its rightful seat at the table,” Modi said. “For us there are no limits to our cooperation with you.”
The two-day trip was Modi’s first official visit to the diverse, twin-island Caribbean country that shares longstanding ties with India.
The visit was expected to boost investment in energy, health, security and other sectors.
In his speech, Modi said that he saw “great potential” in working with Trinidad and Tobago on everything from developing new digital artificial intelligence tools to agriculture.
He said that trade between the two countries was only set to grow “with human development at the centre.”
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced a number of investments into medical, energy and technological infrastructure promised by Modi, and thanked Modi.
“This visit is more than just diplomacy. It marks a new dawn,” she said. “India, and Trinidad and Tobago, will now work as strategic partners.”
She said that the two countries were also working on renewing bilateral trade and investment agreements and that Trinidad and Tobago were slated to expand exports to India.
In his speech, Modi also highlighted the long-standing connections between the two nations, which he said acted as a “powerful symbol” of fraternity and trust between the two nations.
More than 35% of the Caribbean country’s 1.4 million inhabitants are East Indian, descendants of indentured workers brought from India during the colonial era.
Modi was greeted by many of the country’s Hindu population, but some in Trinidad and Tobago’s Muslim community sharply criticised the leader.
On Wednesday, the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA) said it intended to write to the prime minister’s office and the Indian high commission to express its concern after Modi received the prestigious Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
In a statement, the ASJA said it had “deep and principled concern” about the state’s legitimisation of a figure they believe has emboldened religious intolerance in India and targeted the Muslim minority.
“We cannot ignore Mr Modi’s political legacy and its ramifications for Muslim communities globally,” the organisation said.
The ASJA cited the revocation of Kashmir’s special status and the 2002 Gujarat riots, during which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.
About 18% of Trinidad and Tobago’s population is Hindu, while 5% is Muslim.
“Both our nations rose from the shadows of colonial rule to write our own story,” Modi said. “The legacy of shared heritage and mutual respect continues to guide our partnership.”
