Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Guyana after 56 years, which is a historic moment in the bilateral relations between India and Guyana. He met Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfan Ali in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana.
10 important agreements signed
- After talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Ali, the two countries signed 10 agreements. These agreements are aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Key areas
- Hydrocarbons: India and Guyana will prepare a blueprint for cooperation in energy security.
- Digital payment system: India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) will be implemented in Guyana.
- Pharma and health: Jan Aushadhi Kendra will be established in Guyana.
- Agriculture: India will help Guyana to increase the cultivation of crops like rice, sugarcane, maize, soybean.
- Defence: India provided two Dornier aircraft to Guyana and assured training and scholarships to Guyana’s military personnel.
Cooperation in Energy and Food Security
- Energy: Modi said that Guyana will play an important role in India’s energy security.
- Agriculture and Food Security: Millet seeds sent by India improved the food security of Guyana and its neighbouring countries.
Discussion on Climate and Global Issues
- The two leaders discussed issues such as climate change, reform of global institutions and ‘climate justice’. Prime Minister Modi said that all problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
India’s Development Partnership in Guyana
- The Prime Minister mentioned India’s contribution to infrastructure, skill development and digital transformation in Guyana.
- India contributed to capacity building of Guyana.
- Digital payment system will further strengthen the economic relations between the two countries.
Guyana: An important country in South America–
- Official name: Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
- Located in the north-central part of South America.
- North of the Amazon River and east of the Orinoco River.
- The term ‘Guyana’ was historically used for three colonies of Holland (Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice).
- First ruled by the Portuguese.
- The region remained under the British for about 200 years.
Population and ethnic diversity:
- 5% of the people are of Indian origin.
- 2% are of African origin.
- 7% are of mixed race and 9.6% are people of other ethnic groups.
- Capital and largest city: Georgetown.
India and Guyana Trade Relations
Trade figure for 2023-24
- Total mutual trade: US$ 97 million.
- India’s exports to Guyana: US$36 million.
Major export items:
- Pharmaceutical products.
- Rice and food products.
- Automobiles and textiles.
Cooperation in energy sector
- By May 2024, Guyana was producing 645,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas.
- India signed a 5-year agreement for hydrocarbon cooperation.
- ONGC Videsh: Actively looking for investments and opportunities in Guyana’s oil and gas sector
- Guyana is called the “granary of the Caribbean”.
Natural resources:
- 2 billion barrels of oil reserves.
- 17 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.