Jaishankar holds talks with Jamaican PM, ministers, business leaders

Kingston: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, currently on a visit to Jamaica, held a series of engagements in Kingston with ministers and business leaders, discussing ways to expand cooperation across sectors.

He called on Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and held talks focusing on economic and people-to-people cooperation.

“Pleased to call on Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM Narendra Modi. Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

He also handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica in the presence of Holness, Health Minister Christopher Tufton and Foreign Minister Kamina J. Smith.

“The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation,” he added.

Jaishankar later held a bilateral meeting with his Jamaican counterpart Kamina J. Smith and other Cabinet ministers for an in-depth review of ties.

“Discussed taking forward our cooperation in education and health, agriculture and digital, tourism, sports and entertainment, infrastructure, capacity building, and multilateral issues,” he said.

He also interacted with Jamaica’s industry and business leaders and met Industry Minister Aubyn Hill.

“Emphasised that as we diversify and seek reliable partners, the need to deepen India-Jamaica business ties is stronger. The potential for our economic cooperation needs to be explored more vigorously, both bilaterally and regionally,” he added.

Jaishankar will also visit Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry of External Affairs said these countries share a special connection with India due to the presence of Girmitiya communities.

‘Girmitiyas’ were Indian indentured labourers who migrated in the mid- to late-19th century to work in British colonies, where many eventually settled. The term ‘Girmit’ is derived from a mispronunciation of ‘agreement’, referring to the contracts under which they migrated.

Source: ddnews.gov.in