Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Christopher Rowley, and his wife, Sharon Rowley, were accorded a ceremonial reception by Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais and Mrs Rambai Bais this week at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. The Prime Minister is visiting Mumbai to promote bilateral relations with India and discuss opening a Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Keith Rowley said India’s Independence paved the way for Trinidad and Tobago’s independence. Expressing the need to further strengthen relations with India, Dr Keith Rowley said that India’s investment will significantly contribute to the development of Trinidad and Tobago. Mentioning his meeting with top entrepreneurs in Mumbai earlier in the day, Dr Rowley said Indian entrepreneurs were optimistic about investing in Trinidad and Tobago.
Welcoming the Trinidad and Tobago premier to Maharashtra, Governor Bais said Trinidad is the land of the great batsman Brian Lara. He said Trinidadian cricketers like Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard are famous in India.
The governor said the arrival of the first Indian in Trinidad & Tobago will complete 180 years in 2025, and the two nations have shared excellent relations for many years.
The Governor said India is the fifth largest economy in the world and is moving towards becoming the third largest economy shortly. He expressed the need to give new impetus to economic partnerships in the agriculture, healthcare, pharma, energy, and ICT sectors.
He said India, Trinidad, and Tobago are working together on digital products, including Aadhaar, UPI, Digilocker, eHealth etc.
The Governor said that Trinidad and Tobago is a crucial part of Caribbean marine connectivity, so India has offered its capacity for shipbuilding. He said India would like to share its successful scheme of bringing high-quality generic medicines to the masses.
The Governor said that, as the Chancellor of state-funded universities, he would like to see greater academic collaboration between Indian universities and the universities of Trinidad and Tobago.
On this occasion, the Governor hosted a state banquet in honour of the T&T Prime Minister and his delegation.
Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, Administrative Attache, High Commission Charlene Ramsundar, International Relations and Protocol Officer from PMO office Kirk Francois, Deputy Press Secretary Abby Brathwaite, and others were present at the banquet.
Commissioner of Mumbai Police Vivek Phansalkar, Air Officer Commanding Maritime Air Operations Air Vice Marshal Rajat Mohan, Additional Chief Secretary Rajgopal Deora, Maj Gen Bikramdeep Singh, Rear Admiral Manish Chada were also present.
