India, Jamaica discuss skilled mobility, trade and healthcare cooperation

India and Jamaica have agreed to strengthen trade and investment linkages and explore cooperation for the recruitment and mobility of skilled professionals, including nurses, healthcare workers and teachers, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar, the first Indian external affairs minister to visit Jamaica on a bilateral trip, called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness and held delegation-level talks with Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith.

Addressing a joint press conference after talks in Kingston on Monday, Jaishankar said the discussions reviewed the full range of bilateral ties and identified new areas for cooperation.

Three MoUs were signed in the areas of health cooperation, solarisation of The Hugh Lawson Shearer Building and broadcasting.

“We signed several important agreements and discussed effective implementations of MoUs which have been recently concluded in the fields of digital transformation, cultural exchange, sports and digital payments to ensure tangible outcomes on the ground,” he said.

Jaishankar said India recognised Jamaica’s growing role as a logistics hub and gateway to the Caribbean for trade and investment.

“We agreed to strengthen further trade, business and investment linkages, explore cooperation for recruitment and mobility of skilled professionals, including nurses, healthcare workers and teachers,” he said.

The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in defence and security, healthcare, digitisation, agriculture, education and infrastructure.

Highlighting development cooperation as a major pillar of bilateral ties, Jaishankar referred to the completion of the Improving Rural Livelihoods Project in Kitson Town in March, implemented with Indian assistance of USD 1 million under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

The project benefited more than 200 individuals and impacted thousands more, he said.

India is also discussing the feasibility of establishing an artisan empowerment hub in Jamaica and reiterated support for the country’s recovery following Hurricane Melissa.

Jaishankar handed over 10 BHISHM emergency medical units and announced the supply of 30 dialysis units, along with 40 fishing boats with engines, 200 GPS devices and related equipment.

Both countries reaffirmed close coordination in multilateral forums on issues relating to the Global South, climate justice, climate finance and Small Island Developing States.

India also appreciated Jamaica’s support for its candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2028-29.

The two sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

Both sides also explored the feasibility of establishing an Artisan Empowerment Hub in Jamaica under the India-CARICOM development partnership framework.

CARICOM has 15 members — Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides discussed expanding cooperation in sectors including healthcare, infrastructure, digitalisation, agriculture, education, tourism and capacity building.

India reiterated its commitment through enhanced ITEC training slots, particularly for defence training, increasing the number from six to 34 slots.

The two countries also discussed capacity building through ICCR scholarships and digital learning platforms such as E-Vidyabharati and iGOT Karmyogi.

Jaishankar highlighted growing people-to-people ties and referred to the popularity of yoga and Ayurveda in Jamaica, along with the contribution of the Indian diaspora to the country’s development.

During the visit, Jaishankar visited the Indian Arrival Memorial at Old Harbour and jointly unveiled, with Holness, a plaque for the India-gifted electronic scoreboard at Sabina Park.

He also announced a contribution of two million Jamaican dollars towards celebrations marking 181 years of the arrival of Indians in Jamaica on India Heritage Day.

According to the website of the High Commission of India in Kingston, Jamaica has an Indian diaspora of around 70,000 people whose forefathers mainly came from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as indentured labourers between 1845 and 1917. Some also came from South India.

The diaspora makes up around 3 per cent of Jamaica’s population and continues to maintain strong links with Indian culture, music, dance and history.

May 10 is observed as India Heritage Day in Jamaica.

Jaishankar also interacted with business leaders and members of the Indian diaspora and participated in a public conversation at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

“Emphasised that as we all diversify and seek reliable partners, the imperative to deepen India-Jamaica business ties is that much stronger,” he said in a social media post.

He added that the potential for bilateral and regional economic cooperation should be “explored more vigorously” and appreciated Industry Minister Aubyn Hill for organising the interaction with business leaders.

“The visit marks an important milestone in further strengthening India–Jamaica relations and enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday as part of the first leg of his nine-day visit to Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago aimed at strengthening India’s strategic and cultural ties with Caribbean nations.