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Context:

The second India-CARICOM Joint Commission meeting was held virtually to review and strengthen the India-CARICOM relationship.

About CARICOM

CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) was established in 1973 through the Treaty of Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Members	The organization has 15 member countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago.  Some territories, such as Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands, are Associate Members.
Objectives	The organization's main objectives include promoting economic integration and cooperation among members, ensuring equitable benefits, and coordinating foreign policy.
Secretariat	The Secretariat is located in Georgetown, Guyana. The Community's chairmanship is rotated every six months among the heads of the member countries.
Caribbean Court of Justice	CARICOM officially established the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in 2007, it serves as the final court of appeal for members as well as a forum for regional trade disputes.
Observer status	It has been granted the official United Nations General Assembly observer status.

India-CARICOM Bilateral Relations

India started its relationship with CARICOM as a group after developing bilateral ties with individual Caribbean countries. 

In 2003, a CARICOM delegation visited India, during this visit, an agreement was signed to establish a Standing Joint Commission on Consultation, Cooperation, and Coordination between India and CARICOM.

The first meeting of the India-CARICOM Joint Commission was held in Guyana in 2015. It aimed to improve cooperation in areas such as trade, capacity building, and regional integration. The participating countries discussed collaboration in health, education, agriculture, and disaster management.

During the Third India-CARICOM Ministerial Meeting in 2017, India committed US$ 200,000 in emergency aid to CARICOM countries affected by hurricanes. India also offered $2 million from the India-UN Partnership Fund for rehabilitation projects in CARICOM countries.

India announced assistance to CARICOM nations at the First India-CARICOM Summit in 2019 

• A $14 million grant for community development projects.
• A $150 million line of credit for solar energy and climate change projects.
• Special capacity-building programs, training, and expert deputation are designed according to CARICOM's needs.
• The summit agreed to form an India-CARICOM Task Force to revive the relationship.

Recent Meeting

The India-CARICOM Joint Commission meeting discussions focused on key areas such as economic cooperation, renewable energy, education, and infrastructure development. Both sides agreed to expand their cooperation in these areas to promote mutual growth and development.

The meeting focused on strategic areas, including:

• Economic and commercial relationships
• Agriculture, Health, and Pharmaceuticals
• Collaboration on renewable energy sources
• Education and Human Resource Development
• Technology, disaster management, and resilient infrastructure.

Way Forward

Strengthening ties with CARICOM aligns with India's overall strategy of deepening relationships with countries in the Global South. 

By participating in CARICOM, India promotes regional development, democratic values, and collaboration on issues such as climate change, renewable energy, trade, and disaster management.  It will also help India in increasing its influence in the Caribbean and promote collaborative initiatives that promote global stability and shared growth.

Must Read Articles: 

INDIA CARICOM MINISTERIAL MEETING

INDIA-CARICOM RELATIONS

Source: 

Financial Express

HCI GEORGE TOWN

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements in the context of the CARICOM: 1. It is a political and economic union of African Nations. 2. It was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A) 1 only B) 2 only C) Both 1 and 2 D) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: B Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) is a political and economic union of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) and five associate members from the Americas, Caribbean, and Atlantic Ocean.  Statement 2 is correct: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) aims to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, ensure that the benefits of integration are distributed equitably, and coordinate foreign policy. The organization was formed in 1973 when its four founding members signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas.