India’s leader promises trade and investment in a visit to Trinidad and Tobago

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, receives the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the nation’s highest honor, from Trinidad and Tobago President Carla Kangaloo at presidential residence in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on July 4. (AP)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, July 5, (AP): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising continued trade and investment in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday in an address to the nation’s parliament.

“It’s time for us to work together to give the global south its rightful seat at the table,” Modi said. “For us there are no limits to our cooperation with you.”

The two-day trip was Modi’s first official visit to the diverse, twin-island Caribbean country that shares longstanding ties with India. The visit was expected to boost investment in energy, health, security and other sectors.

In his speech, Modi said that he saw “great potential” in working with Trinidad and Tobago on everything from developing new digital artificial intelligence tools to agriculture. He said that trade between the two countries was only set to grow “with human development at the center.”

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced a number of investments into medical, energy and technological infrastructure promised by Modi, and thanked the leader.

“This visit is more than just diplomacy. It marks a new dawn,” she said. “India, and Trinidad and Tobago, will now work as strategic partners.”