India proposed seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
- Seven pillars listed by the India form the acronym C-A-R-I-C-O-M.
- Pillars include Capacity Building, Agriculture and Food Security, Renewable Energy and Climate Change, Innovation, Technology and Trade, etc.
- The first-ever India-CARICOM Summit was held in 2019.
About CARICOM
- A regional organization established in 1973 to promote economic integration and cooperation in the Caribbean.
- Consists of 21 countries (fifteen Member States and six Associate Members) including Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, etc.
Significance of CARICOM for India
- Partnership in Multilateral Forums: Many CARICOM countries such as Antigua and Barbuda support India’s position in international forums. E.g. Support for permanent membership in the UNSC.
- South-South Cooperation: Countries from group participated in 3rd Voice of Global South Summit, 2024, organised by India.
- Defence Export: E.g. Recently, HAL delivered two Dornier 228 planes to Guyana.
- Climate Action Collaboration/Energy Security: E.g. Suriname joined International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- Other: Act as a gateway to Latin America, Cooperation in disaster resilience (E.g. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure), Home to Indian Diaspora (Trinidad and Tobago), etc.
