India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a State visit to Trinidad and Tobago in the first week of July.
Modi last visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2002 as part of a delegation of Indian Hindus attending the World Hindu Conference.
This upcoming visit will mark his first official trip to the country since becoming India’s Prime Minister in 2014.
‘EXTENDED INVITE’: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, when contacted by the Express yesterday, confirmed Modi’s visit and disclosed that she had extended an invitation to him.
“On behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago I extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi and we are pleased to announce that he will make a state visit to Trinidad and Tobago. He is expected to arrive in the first week of July. Several Memorandums of Understanding will be signed to strengthen bilateral relationships. There are ongoing discussions with our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian High Commissioner,” Persad-Bissessar stated.
Modi, India’s prime minister from 2014 to 2019, was re-elected for a second term from 2019 to 2024, and was sworn in for a third consecutive term in June 2024.
He will be the first foreign leader hosted by Persad-Bissessar since she was elected prime minister on April 28, 2025.
According to a report by NewsX Live, Modi is expected to embark on a foreign tour in early July, visiting Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina.
The report stated that these visits will play a key role in strengthening India’s bilateral relations and bolstering its influence on the global stage.
It emphasised that, though small, Caribbean island nations are important partners for India, and the visit underscores India’s commitment to deepening these ties. It also noted that the visit will promote cooperation in trade and other sectors.
Modi will also travel to Brazil from July 5-8 to attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The BRICS alliance comprises 11 countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.
The bloc serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries of the Global South, aiming to foster cooperation across diverse sectors.
Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Persad-Bissessar on her political comeback and historic election victory, expressing his eagerness to collaborate on initiatives that benefit both nations.
In a post shared on X, Modi had stated:
“Heartiest congratulations @MPKamla on your victory in the elections. We cherish our historically close and familial ties with Trinidad and Tobago. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our partnership for shared prosperity and well-being of our people.”
In November 2024, Modi met with former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley on the sidelines of the 2nd India-Caricom Summit in Georgetown, Guyana.
He had made a three-day visit to Guyana at the invitation of Guyanese President Dr Irfaan Ali.
Modi congratulated Rowley on Trinidad and Tobago’s adoption of India’s flagship Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform and pledged further collaboration on digital transformation.
They discussed progress in bilateral cooperation across areas such as security, health, transportation, agriculture, capacity building, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties. An MOU on food processing was signed following the talks.
Seven pillars
During his address at the summit, Modi proposed seven pillars of co-operation, using the letters of the acronym “CARICOM” to frame his proposals:
1. C – Capacity Building: Modi proposed 1,000 scholarships under India’s ITEC programme over the next five years for Caricom citizens. He also proposed the establishment of a regional forensic centre.
2. A – Agriculture and Food Security: He promoted the use of millets, a climate-resilient superfood, to improve food security and tackle climate change.
3. R – Renewable Energy and Climate Change: Modi suggested India could help make at least one government building in each Caricom country solar-powered.
4. I – Innovation and Trade: Highlighting India’s UPI digital payment system, Modi noted it is already in use in countries such as the UAE, France, and Mauritius, and offers fast, large-scale transactions.
5. C – Cricket and Culture: Acknowledging cricket’s popularity, Modi said the sport serves as a cultural bridge between India and the region.
6. O – Ocean Economy and Maritime Security: Modi proposed that India could supply passenger and cargo ferries to enhance regional connectivity, adding that Caricom nations are not just small island states, but “large ocean countries”.
7. M – Medicine and Healthcare: Modi offered India’s assistance in opening health centres stocked with generic medicines, establishing drug-testing laboratories, and providing cancer treatment equipment such as the “Made in India” Siddharth II machine. He also proposed support for mobile hospitals, dialysis units, ambulances, and the annual hosting of a “foot camp” to provide artificial limbs for the disabled.
