India - Trinidad & Tobago Relations Historical Perspective: The relationship between India and Trinidad & Tobago started on 30 May 1845, when the first ship Fatel Razack carrying 225 indentured workers from India reached the shores of Trinidad, then a British colony. Their numbers increased with subsequent arrival of more ships from India. The descendents of those workers, now in their fifth generation, form nearly 42% of the population and are part and parcel of the economic, political and social fabric of the country. They have maintained their traditional Indian cultural and religious customs. The presence of a substantial population of Indian origin (the largest ethnic group) has contributed greatly to bilateral relations between the two countries. Exchange of Visits: From India: A 6-member delegation led by Hon'ble Mrs. Meira Kumar, Speaker (Lok Sabha) visited T&T from 7-12 January 2012 to attend the Commonwealth Speakers & Presiding Officers Conference(CSPOC). A 6-member delegation led by Mr Anil Kumar, Secretary, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare visited T&T from 2-6 November 2011. Dr. S. Ayappan, Secretary(DARE) & DG(ICAR) led a 2-member delegation on a visit to T&T on 16-17 October 2011. A delegation from Ministry of Tourism visited T&T from 3-6 June, 2011. In May 2011, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation Shri Vayalar Ravi visited T&T (29 May 1 June) to partici pate in the Indian Arrival Day celebrations and inaugurate a 2 Day Conference on the Diaspora in the Caribbean. In November 2009, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh led a high level delegation for CHOGM Summit In November 2009, External Affairs Minister Shri S.M. Krishna attended Pre-CHOGM Foreign Ministers Meeting and CHOGM Summit meeting. Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Sh. Suresh Kalmadi also visited during CHOGM and gave a presentation on Delhi CWG, 2010. In May, 2007, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Shri Vayalar Ravi visited to participate in the Indian Arrival Day celebrations. In November 2006, Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat visited T&T 1
In May 2005, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee led a Parliamentary delegation to T&T From T&T: Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar paid a State visit to India from 5-14 January, 2012. She was accompanied by a high level delegation comprising of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications Hon. Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan; Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Stephen Cadiz; Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs Sen. Kevin Ramnarine; Minister of Transport Sen. Devant Maharaj; Minister of Public Utilities Sen. Emmanuel George; Minister of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs Sen. Vasant Bharat; Minister of Science Technology and Tertiary Education Sen. Fazal Karim and a 160-member strong business delegation from private and public sector besides representatives from UWI(University of West Indies), UTT(University of T&T) and NIHERST(National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology) Finance Minister Winston Dookeran attended the Delhi Economics Conclave in New Delhi from 12-17 December 2011. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications Hon'ble Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan led a delegation to India to attend the first JCM meeting in New Delhi on 28-29 November 2011. Minister of Tourism Dr. Rupert Griffith led a Tourism Promotion Mission to India from 11-22 January 2011. The Mission visited four cities: Ahmedabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore. During the visit the Mission also participated in the 5th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit. Delhi Commonwealth Games: With the active participation of the Mission in publicizing Commonwealth Games 2010, T&T CWG Federation sent a contingent of 143 sport persons, coaches and managers. President of the Senate Danny Montano led a 3-member Parliamentary delegation to Delhi to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentary meeting in January 2010. Minister of Trade & Industry Mariano Browne visited India in September 2009 to attend WTO Ministerial Meeting at the invitation of Commerce Minister Sh. Anand Sharma A Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Barendra Sinanan visited India in September 2007. The delegation included President of the Senate Dr. Linda Baboolal and Leader of Opposition Kamla Persad Bissessar 2
Minister of Trade and Industry Kenneth Valley visited India in March 2007 at the head of a large business delegation. BIPPA was signed during the visit Existing Agreements and MOUs: While a few agreements/mous were signed between India and T&T as far back as in 1985, viz. Cooperation in Science and Technology signed in 1985, and Cultural Cooperation Agreement signed in 1987, a number of agreements were signed during former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday s visit to India in January 1997. These were in the fields of technical cooperation, trade (according MFN status for each other s products), agriculture, research and education; development of small scale industries in T&T besides a few MOUs on Foreign Office Consultations, NSIC and Small Business Development Company of Trinidad and between CII and T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, etc. During Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapayee s visit to T&T in February, 1999, the two countries signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and a MOU for Cooperation in Low Cost Housing. An Inter-Governmental Commission Agreement on Political, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation was signed between India and T&T in February 2003. Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) was signed in 2007. A MoU was signed between the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in May 2009. A MoU and a Work-Plan in Agriculture was signed between Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs of T&T in October 2011 During the State visit of PM KPB in Jan 2012, a number of agreements and MOUs were signed. These included, the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA); a Technical Cooperation Agreement (in the field of Education) was signed between India's National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies and T&Ts National Institute of Higher Education, Research and Science Technology(NIHERST); Programme of Cultural Exchanges (for the years 2012-2014); MoU on co-operation in the field of Traditional Systems Medicine; and a MoU signed between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Deptt. of AYUSH and the T&T University of West Indies. A formal MoU was also signed between Delhi University and the T&T University of West Indies. Joint Commission Meeting (JCM): Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications Hon'ble Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan led a delegation to India to attend the first JCM meeting in New Delhi on 28-29 November 2011. Areas of discussion included Science & Technology, air transport, agriculture, SMEs, education, healthcare, tech. cooperation, energy and trade. The Indian side was led by EAM Sh. S.M. Krishna. 3
Participation in PBD and PBSAs: PM Kamla Persad Bissessar attended PBD 2012 in Jaipur as Chief Guest and was conferred with the PBSA. Senior Minister in the PM s office Dr. Lenny Saith attended PBD 2010 in Delhi and received Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award [PBSA] on 9 Jan 2010. In 2008 PBD, National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) was awarded PBSA. NCIC President Deokinanan Sharma received PBSA on NCIC s behalf. Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday attended PBD as official delegate in 2005 (Mumbai) and in 2008(Delhi). In 2005, he received the PBSA. In January 2006, Minister of Petroleum Dr. Lenny Saith visited India as official delegate to take part in the PBD celebrations in India (Hyderabad). Forum of Indian Nationals in T&T' (FINTT) launched: On the initiative of the High Commission a 'Forum of Indian Nationals in T&T' (FINTT) was launched on 17 September 2011. FINTT is intended to bring together all Indian professionals living in T&T in an effort to carry out humanitarian work in diverse fields. Know India Youth-Trinidad and Tobago (KIY-TT) launched: On the initiative of the High Commission the 'Know India Youth-Trinidad & Tobago (KIY-TT) was formed in order to have a better interaction among the participants in the Know India Programme (KIP) in T&T. The body was formed with an interim core committee to carry forward the objectives of the group which included organizing cultural programme, talk show on TV channels highlighting developments in different sectors in India and community activities. Indian Food Festival: An Indian Food Festival was organized in Port of Spain from June 01-08, 2011 at the Hilton Hotel. The Ministry of Tourism sponsored two Chefs from India for the Indian Food Festival. Later in October another Chef from Ashok Group visited to take part in the International Culinary Festival organized by the Ministry of Tourism. Visit of Indian Cricket Team High Commissioner hosted a Reception on 3 June 2011 for the touring Indian Cricket team that arrived in T&T to play a series of matches with the West Indies Cricket Team. 4
ICAR delegation's visit: A 2-member delegation from Department of Agricultural Research & Education(DARE) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) visited T&T on 17 October 2011. During the visit, an MOU and a Work-Plan was signed by Dr. S. Ayappan, Secretary(DARE) & DG(ICAR) and Ms Edwina Leacock, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs of T&T. Visit of AYUSH Delegation to T&T: A 6-member delegation from the Department of AYUSH visited Trinidad and Tobago on 2-6 November 2011 and held a 2-day Ayurvedic Seminar and workshop-cum-exhibition at the Divali Nagar on 4-5 November. TOBAGO: Tobago House of Assembly (THA) business delegation visited India as part of 3-nation tour: The first-ever business delegation from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) led by Secretary of Finance & Enterprise Development Dr. Anselm London was on a two-week mission to China, Japan and India to seek business opportunities from 7 to 21 April 2010. The Mission sought business and investment opportunities for joint venture in development and management of its IT Centre as well as collaboration in development of micro, small and medium enterprise industries in Tobago. THA signed a MoU on cooperation in MSMEs with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) at their headquarters in New Delhi on 19 April 2010. February 2012 Click here for address http://mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=8701153
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