Presiden Kovind is on an official visit to Jamaica, the first by any Indian president to the Caribbean nation

There is steady growth in bilateral trade and economic and commercial interactions between India and Jamaica despite the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday.

During discussions with Jamaica's Governor General Patrick Allen, President Kovind said that there is still scope for increased trade and investment.

In this context, he referred to sectors such as IT and IT Enabled Services, medical and pharma sector, education and capacity building, tourism and hospitality industry, agriculture and infrastructure projects, the President's Secretariat said on Tuesday.

Presiden Kovind is on an official visit to Jamaica, the first by any Indian president to the Caribbean nation.

The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in the field of IT and related services, medical and pharma sector, sports and education, tourism and hospitality industry and development partnership.

He also met Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness. They discussed enhancing cooperation between India and Jamaica in trade and investment, service, health, railway and transport services and sports as well as cooperation in regional and multilateral fora, said the President's Secretariat.

President Kovind said that there is huge potential for collaboration in the service sector and knowledge economy between the two countries.

He was happy to note Jamaica’s interest in collaboration in the field of education, especially among educational institutions. He said that India welcomes Jamaica’s interest in hosting a branch of an Indian educational institution in one of its universities.

Following the meeting, they both witnessed the signing and exchanging of an MoU on diplomatic training collaboration between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSFSI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, the President's Secretariat added.

President Kovind began his visit by paying respects to the memorial of Marcus Garvey, Jamaica's national hero.
During the course of the day, he also dedicated Dr. Ambedkar Avenue in downtown Kingston to honouring Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Following this, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mark Golding also met with him and discussed bilateral cooperation, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections during the session.

While talking at the 'Indian Community and Friends of India Warm Welcome' Program in Kingston, President Kovind stated both countries continue to have "cordial and friendly relations" based on shared democratic values."

Later on, together with First Lady Savita Kovind, President Kovind launched an 'India-Jamaica Friendship Garden' at the Hope Gardens and planted a sapling.

He also mentioned that Jamaica is one of the Girmitya countries, with a 70,000-strong Indian diaspora that serves as a living bridge between India and the country.

President Kovind's visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic ties between India and Jamaica. In addition, India and Jamaica are commemorating their respective 75th and 60th independence anniversaries.