Guyana - India:
Exploring the potential for stronger ties
By Mark Ramotar
Guyana Chronicle
August 24, 2003
ALTHOUGH Guyana and India enjoy a very close and warm friendship based on age-old historical ties, it is felt that the existing potential for the further strengthening of bilateral relations has not been fully exploited.
Relations between the two countries date back to 1838 when the first batch of indentured labourers was brought to Guyana from India. But it was on May 26, 1966, the day Guyana became an independent country, that the two countries established formal diplomatic relations.
In fact, India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Guyana immediately after this country received its independence. Since then, relations between Guyana and India have always been very friendly, with Guyana benefiting from numerous training programmes in the fields of agriculture, culture, education and communication.
In the process, the Guyana/India Joint Commission was also established to promote and coordinate trade and technical cooperation between the two countries.
In February this year, an Indian delegation headed by Minister of State for External Affairs, Digvijai Singh, arrived in the country on a three-day official visit aimed at further advancing bilateral relations between the two countries.
While here, the delegation met with President Bharrat Jagdeo; Prime Minister Sam Hinds; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rudy Insanally; Minister of Foreign Trade and International Co-operation, Clement Rohee, and other Ministers of Government. Discussions were held on issues of mutual interest and the strengthening of bilateral relations.
Located in southern Asia between Burma and Pakistan, India has the world’s second largest population with just under 1.1 billion people.
The country has a total area size of approximately 3.3 million square kilometers or slightly more than one-third the size of the United States, with a geographical location near the Indian Ocean trade route that strategically places it to dominate the South Asian sub-continent.
India has the world’s fourth largest coal reserve. This is in addition to significant reserves of iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium, ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone and arable land.
The country, however, suffers from droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms and earthquake.
India has also made impressive gains in economic investments and output over the years, but overpopulation, environmental degradation and extensive poverty among other constraints, along with an ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, remain fundamental concerns for the Government.
During an anniversary celebration this year to mark India's 54th year as a Republic, then Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Tara Singh, who had a brief stint here, noted that in the very first two months since he had arrived in Guyana, he had begun to realise that "we have not fully exploited the potential that exist for further strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Guyana".
"We need to create visible landmarks in the form of a hospital, technical institution or some similar venture through our economic cooperation (and) I am sure in this endeavour, I would be able to count on the support and cooperation from His Excellency, the President and his Government," Singh posited.
He, like his predecessor Dr. Prakash Joshi, admitted that Guyana and India remain committed to the common ideals of promoting universal peace and equitable economic development and have been working together for the creation of a safer and better world.
Both Singh and Joshi, in the past, have lauded the ITEC programme as an important avenue of cooperation between the two countries. Every year, under this programme, many Guyanese nationals are sent to India to receive training and practical experience in diverse fields in some of India's best educational, technical and professional institutions. All expenses for such training, including cost of international travel, are borne by the Government of India.
Also, a number of Indian professionals are working in Guyana in various specialised fields under the ITEC programme.
Singh had also highlighted some important aspects of the Indian economy, which he said has been growing at a satisfactory rate of six to seven per cent over the years.
"On many critical indicators - exports, industrial production, foreign exchange reserves, foreign investment and inflation - the economy did much better in the year 2002," Singh disclosed.
"We remain committed to building an egalitarian society in which all strata of our society derive benefit from the fruits of progress (and) we have before us the goal of eradicating poverty and providing a decent standard of living to all our citizens," he said.
Singh was also proud about the fact that India has been forecasted to have the fastest growing information technology (IT) market in the world during this year (2003).
President Bharrat Jagdeo had noted more than once that since its independence, India has made admirable advances in becoming "a modern, progressive and prosperous nation".
"Considerable progress has been made towards guaranteeing the full realisation of the objectives of the founding fathers of the Indian Republic which have centered on the improvement of the living standards of India's vast population and the enhancement of India's role within the international community," President Jagdeo said.
The Guyanese Head of State also pointed out that equally impressive has been, and still is, the role India plays in international affairs. "India's voice will always be heard in defence for developing countries and in the promotion of international peace and security," he had stated.
He said, too, that Guyana and India have historically worked together in all institutions of which both countries are members, to advance political, economic and social conditions.
President Jagdeo and a delegation of Government, private sector and labour officials begin a six-day state visit to India today.
During the visit, the President will hold discussions with the President of India, Dr Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Sonia Gandhi and several Cabinet ministers, and will sign a number of economic, education and cultural agreements with the Indian Government.
Also, President Kalam will host a State Banquet in honour of the Guyanese President at the Rastrapathi Bhavan (Presidential Palace) in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
President Jagdeo will be guest of honour at a luncheon hosted by the Federation Chambers of Commerce of India and will deliver the feature address at the event.
He will also visit several manufacturing and information technology complexes in Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai.
He has been invited, as well, to the State of Uttar Pradesh from where his ancestors came.
The Government’s delegation comprises: Minister of Foreign Trade and International cooperation, Clement Rohee; Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ms. Gail Teixeira; Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Doodnauth Singh; Presidential Adviser on Investment, Manniram Prashad; Information Liaison Officer to the President, Robert Persaud; and the Director General of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elizabeth Harper.
The private sector and labour component of the delegation will be represented by: the President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Edward Boyer, President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Carvil Duncan and businessman and President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, Fazal Ferouze.