Jamaican Commerce Minister Aubyn Hill said that the country is looking forward to enriching investment ties with India and added that the talks for imports of wheat, fertilizers and farm equipment from India are ongoing.
The Minister said, "Discussions with India to sell not only wheat but fertilizers and farm equipment. We are seeking to establish a distributorship for Indian trucks and buses...seeking a commercial and investment relationship to benefit both the countries."
Hill also expressed concerns about food insecurity as a fallout of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He informed that though the wheat imports are ample currently but there remains an uncertainty.
"We have enough wheat import today, but we don't know what will happen tomorrow as the world changed on February 24. Russia now has a war engagement with Ukraine. So we are opening discussions with our friend, India," he added.
"As we come out of pandemic, we are looking at inviting Indian investors and pharmaceutical companies... we are preparing to be a logistic centre for your pharmaceutical companies," he continued.
Tom Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate of Jamaica, on May 18 welcomed the Indian President Ram Nath Kovind's four-day visit to the Caribbean country and said this will help enhance the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Tavares-Finson underlined 'historical and longstanding' ties and expressed hope to continue to build this relationship.
"What a fantastic thing it is to welcome the President of India here. Jamaica and India have a long-standing relationship and it is hoped after this visit, we will be able to enjoy more important relations with our two countries," he said.
"The ties between Jamaica and India are historical and longstanding and we hope to continue to build that relationship. The ties between CARICOM (Caribbean Community) and India are similar. We have long historical relations with India. It is reflected in our people, our culture, in our food and our music," he added.
This is the first-ever visit of an Indian President to Jamaica which took place on the 60th anniversary year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
President Kovind landed at the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston, on the evening of May 15.
(ANI)