 "10 things about India-Guyana ties as Modi becomes first PM to visit the country since 1968")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Guyana marks a historic moment in India-Guyana relations as he becomes the first Indian prime minister to tour the Caribbean nation in over five decades. The last time an Indian prime minister visited the country was Indira Gandhi’s tour in 1968.
Modi’s Guyana visit underscores the significance of India’s diplomatic engagement with the Caribbean region as he focuses on strengthening India-Guyana ties. He will hold wide-ranging talks with Guyana President Irfaan Ali, whose ancestors migrated from Uttar Pradesh’s Basti district during colonial years.
Modi’s visit also reflects India’s commitment to deepening ties with Guyana, a country with sizable export of fossil fuels as New Delhi relies heavily on imported gas and oil for its energy requirements. Besides, India and Guyana share deep cultural and historical connections since the colonial days. The two countries have fostered collaboration in areas such as trade, energy, and global diplomacy.
Here are 10 key aspects of India-Guyana relations as Modi makes the historic visit to the country:
Decades-long comprehensive ties
India and Guyana have maintained decades-long ties that are rooted in shared colonial heritage and close cultural links. The bilateral ties are furthered through various platforms, with India-Guyana Joint Commission playing a key role by strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The fifth session of the Joint Commission took place in April 2023 Guyana’s Georgetown. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired it with his counterpart Hugh Hilton Todd. This session built upon the groundwork laid in previous meetings, expanding the scope of collaboration and identifying new opportunities for partnership.
Besides, eight Joint Working Groups have been constituted to address specific areas of interest, including agriculture, health and pharma, infrastructure development, energy, ayurveda and wellness, technology innovation, defence, and human resources and capacity building. Each working group serves as a platform to deepen engagement and achieve tangible outcomes in these priority sectors.
Impact Shorts
View AllCARICOM
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been an important platform to further India-Guyana ties as they cooperate across international fora. Modi will be attending the second India-CARICOM summit during his Guyana visit.
CARICOM advocates expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership within international bodies, ensuring that the interests of small states, such as those in the Caribbean, are represented. This position is also in alignment with Africa’s stance on the matter, reflecting a unified approach among developing nations.
In June 2023, Guyana was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), marking a significant milestone in its diplomatic efforts. The country formally assumed its responsibilities on the UNSC in January 2024 — the same month when Guyana also took the chairmanship of CARICOM, the regional bloc of the Caribbean. It passed on the chair to Grenada in July.
Trade and investment
The cultural bond that India and Guyana share has also helped the two countries further their trade ties. The official data shows that the two countries transacted trade worth $223.36 million in 2021-22. This included exports worth $66.41 million from India. Guyana’s exports to India amounted to $156.96 million, marking a notable rise compared to $46.97 million in 2020-21. Guyana’s energy exports have been a key component among purchases by India.
Energy
Guyana aims to become a global player in energy exports. India and Guyana signed an MoU on renewable energy as the former joined the International Solar Alliance, an initiative championed by New Delhi.
In the energy trade, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd purchased one million barrels of Liza crude oil from Guyana in 2021, following an earlier purchase by HPCL-Mittal Energy.
Guyana became a founding member of the Global Biofuel Alliance in July 2023. It last year joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in 2024, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and resilience.
India’s helping hand during Covid-19
Under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, India donated 80,000 doses of Covishield to Guyana in March 2021 as part New Delhi’s support to global efforts in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
India also contributed $1 million to Guyana in 2020 through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund to boost the country’s healthcare infrastructure, enabling the procurement of over 34 ventilators, thousands of protective equipment items, and emergency care medicines to aid as the Covid-19 caused a public scare with its fatal spread.
To support Guyana’s Covid-19 response, India also provided 30,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets — in high demand globally at the time — to ease the burden the Guyanese healthcare infrastructure. In another significant initiative, India allocated $500,000 to help prevent teenage pregnancy in Guyana, working in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Developmental projects
India has extended concessional lines of credit (LoC) through Exim Bank for various development projects, totalling over $150 million. These projects include the modernisation of sugar plants, the construction of a cricket stadium ($6 million grant + $19 million LoC), the installation of solar traffic lights ($2.1 million), and the purchase of pumps ($4 million).
Some of the ongoing LoC projects include:
(i) the East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project, funded with $50 million
(ii) the acquisition of an ocean ferry vessel with a grant of $5 million and LoC of $7.07 million
(iii) the upgradation of the primary health centre at Bartica, under a $17.5 million LoC
(iv) the installation of solar home lighting systems for 30,000 homes in hinterland communities, with a LoC of $7.29 million, and
(v) the supply of two Hindustan 228-201 aircraft from HAL, funded by a $23.37 million LoC.
Additionally, a LoC agreement was signed for the development of a solar photovoltaic power plant at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown, valued at $2.5 million.
Education
Guyana offers nine scholarships under the Commonwealth Scholarship Plan and four scholarships under the ICCR Scholarship Schemes for Guyanese students interested in studying Indian culture.
Two Indian universities, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Jain “Deemed To Be” University in Bangalore, have been selected by the Ministry of Education of Guyana to provide numerous online scholarships through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).
In 2022, a total of 4,590 slots were allocated across IGNOU, Jain ‘Deemed To Be’ University, Texila American University, and Sherlock Institute of Forensic Sciences. The University of Petroleum & Energy Studies has also been added as a partner university for these scholarships.
Culture
India and Guyana signed an MoU on the Cultural Exchange Programme in 2018 when Second Vice-President and foreign minister Carl Greenidge visited India.
The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Georgetown, established in 1972, is one of the oldest Indian Cultural Centres abroad, offering classes in Indian classical dance, yoga, and music.
The Indo-Guyanese community continues to follow religious practices from the time of indentureship, despite losing linguistic and family ties with India. They stay connected to their heritage by playing Indian music, watching Indian films, and wearing traditional attire during festivals and religious events.
India also gifted the “Indian Arrival Monument” to Guyana, commemorating the arrival of the first group of indentured labourers on May 5, 1838. In October 2023, Kumar Tuhin, the director general of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), visited Guyana to strengthen cultural relations.
Indian diaspora
Of the 800,000 population of Guyana, about 40 per cent are Indian-Guyanese — that is, the people who are descendants of migrants from India. The country has a strong Indian cultural presence.
A sizable number of Indians work in Guyana — around 1,500, including members of the Indian high commission, bank staff, doctors, nurses, medical students, and workers in local companies, hospitals, and the University of Guyana.
Bilateral visits
Bilateral visits between India and Guyana have been of critical diplomatic significance but without consistency. The last time an Indian prime minister visited Guyana was 56 years ago. In recent years, Guyana’s then-President Bharrat Jagdeo visited India in 2003, followed by India’s then Vice-President Bhairon Singh Sekhawat touring the country in 2006.
Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar visited India in January 2015, and President David Granger attended the International Solar Alliance Founding Conference in New Delhi in March 2018.
Incumbent President Irfaan Ali visited India in January last year as Chief Guest for the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. He was given the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. Guyana Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo visited India in February 2023, and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha attended the Global Year of Millets Conference in March 2023. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Guyana in April 2023 to participate in the India-Guyana Business Roundtable and Diaspora Event.
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