Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday warmly welcomed Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness at Hyderabad House ahead of their bilateral talks.
Earlier, the Jamaican PM offered a floral wreath at Rajghat.
The MEA spokesperson said in a post on X:
“Taking forward India-Jamaican deep and historical ties.
“PM @narendramodi warmly received PM @AndrewHolnessJM
of Jamaica as the latter arrived in Hyderabad House for bilateral talks.”
On his visit to Rajghat, he posted:
“Honoring ‘Father of the Nation’!
“PM @AndrewHolnessJM of Jamaica offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat today.”
The Jamaican PM is in India on a four-day visit, marking the first-ever bilateral visit by a leader from Jamaica.
The visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ahead of his visit, the Jamaican Prime Minister noted that Jamaica and India have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1962 and have cooperated in several areas, including education and training, science and technology, business, and infrastructure development.
PM Holness said he is looking forward to important and impactful discussions as the two leaders explore new areas of cooperation and further deepen the bonds of friendship between India and Jamaica.
Prime Minister Holness is also slated to call on President Murmu and Vice President Dhankhar, and other high-ranking officials and business leaders.
He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Minister responsible for Information, Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dana Morris Dixon.
A number of MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit giving a fillip to bilateral cooperation.
India and Jamaica share strong historical and cultural linkages, reflected in their shared colonial past, values of democracy and freedom, and passion for cricket.
This visit is expected to bolster bilateral relations, enhance economic cooperation, and solidify the longstanding bonds between Jamaica and India, a statement added.
Jamaica is home to an Indian diaspora of approximately 70,000, whose ancestors arrived as indentured labourers primarily between 1845 and 1917. 10th May is celebrated as India Heritage Day in Jamaica, to mark the arrival of the first Indian in Jamaica. This diaspora, which makes up around 3% of Jamaica’s population, is well integrated into Jamaican society and is fondly described as ‘genetically embedded and integrated.’ The Indian diaspora brought another group of Indian expatriates to work as office managers in their establishments.
