Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury
NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (KUNA) -- Indian Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's visit to Carribean nations of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on November 6-11 will help to boost bilateral ties between New Delhi and these two countries, both of which have a huge number of the people of Indian origin.
While there are over 325,000 ethnic Indians in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago is home to around 520,000 Indo-Trinidadians. Most of them are descendants of Indians who went there in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Vice President will sign a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement with Trinidad and Tobago, officials in the Indian External Affairs Ministry told KUNA Saturday at Delhi.
Shekhawat will also meet the Presidents and Prime Ministers of both Guyana and Trinidad Tobago besides other leaders, the officials said.
Relations between India and Guyana have strengthened ever since the latter reopened its embassy in India in December 2004. Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is of Indian origin, visited India in 2003 and 2004.
Trade between the two countries in 2005-06 stood at 335 million. Guyana received 54 million as concessional lines of credit from India.
There is tremendous scope for Indian investment in Guyana in mining and forestry sectors, the officials said. Guyana has supported India's candidature as a permanent member in the UN Security Council, they added.
Trinidad and Tobago will seek more Indian investments during the Indian vice president's visit, the officials said.
Trade between Trinidad and Tobago and India stood at Rs.1.7 billion in 2005. Indian companies are now investing in Trinidad Tobago. There is also potential for Indian investment in the oil and gas sector in Trinidad Tobago which produces 140,000 barrels of crude oil and 2.3 billion cubic feet of gas per day, the officials said.
