India's leader Narendra Modi hails 'great potential' in ties with Trinidad and Tobago

Published on 04/07/2025 - 20:17 GMT+2

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises continued waste and acquisition and finance in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday successful an reside to nan nation's parliament.

"It's clip for america to activity together to springiness nan world southbound its rightful spot astatine nan table," Modi said. "For america location are nary limits to our practice pinch you."

The two-day travel was Modi's first charismatic sojourn to nan diverse, twin-island Caribbean state that shares longstanding ties pinch India.

The sojourn was expected to boost finance successful energy, health, information and different sectors.

In his speech, Modi said that he saw "great potential" successful moving pinch Trinidad and Tobago connected everything from processing caller integer artificial intelligence devices to agriculture.

He said that waste and acquisition betwixt nan 2 countries was only group to turn "with quality improvement astatine nan centre."

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced a number of investments into medical, power and technological infrastructure promised by Modi, and thanked Modi.

"This sojourn is much than conscionable diplomacy. It marks a caller dawn," she said. "India, and Trinidad and Tobago, will now activity arsenic strategical partners."

She said that nan 2 countries were besides moving connected renewing bilateral waste and acquisition and finance agreements and that Trinidad and Tobago were slated to grow exports to India.

In his speech, Modi besides highlighted nan long-standing connections betwixt nan 2 nations, which he said acted arsenic a "powerful symbol" of fraternity and spot betwixt nan 2 nations.

More than 35% of nan Caribbean country's 1.4 cardinal inhabitants are East Indian, descendants of indentured workers brought from India during nan assemblage era.

Modi was greeted by galore of nan country’s Hindu population, but immoderate successful Trinidad and Tobago's Muslim organization sharply criticised nan leader.

On Wednesday, nan Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA) said it intended to constitute to nan premier minister's agency and nan Indian precocious committee to definitive its interest aft Modi received nan prestigious Order of nan Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

In a statement, nan ASJA said it had "deep and opinionated concern" astir nan state’s legitimisation of a fig they judge has emboldened belief intolerance successful India and targeted nan Muslim minority.

"We cannot disregard Mr Modi’s governmental bequest and its ramifications for Muslim communities globally," nan organisation said.

The ASJA cited nan revocation of Kashmir's typical position and nan 2002 Gujarat riots, during which much than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.

About 18% of Trinidad and Tobago’s organization is Hindu, while 5% is Muslim.

"Both our nations roseate from nan shadows of assemblage norm to constitute our ain story," Modi said. "The bequest of shared practice and communal respect continues to guideline our partnership."