Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, greets India’s High Commissioner to Barbados, Shri Subhash Prasad Gupta, at their courtesy call yesterday. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
India’s High Commissioner to Barbados, Shri Subhash Prasad Gupta, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, have met to discuss advancing key areas of cooperation and reviewing progress on joint initiatives.
During the courtesy call held Wednesday, July 30, at the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade’s Culloden Road location, Minister Symmonds welcomed the opportunity to further discuss the way forward in cooperating with the Indian Government in areas that would help to build out the island’s infrastructure and development.
The meeting was a follow-up from one held in March this year, where both countries discussed strengthening bilateral relations in a number of areas, including climate change, renewable energy, and knowledge/skill-sharing.
Minister Symmonds and High Commissioner Gupta, who is based in Paramaribo, Suriname, conversed on the finalisation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as the possibility of MoUs in the areas of health, renewable energy and culture.
The two officials also discussed CARIFESTA XV, a visa waiver agreement between Barbados and India, enhancing Barbados’ digital public infrastructure, the procurement of medical equipment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and India’s Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Also present at the courtesy call were Senior Foreign Service Officer, Trecia King, and Foreign Service Officer, Asha Pitt. India and Barbados established diplomatic relations on November 30, 1966.
Author: Sheena Forde-Craigg
Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/barbados-india-discuss-way-forward-for-cooperation/
