HN_ANI2_OD_BHUBANESWAR_PM_NARENDRA_MODI_18TH_PRAVASI_BHARTIYA_DIVAS_10-36-57

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00:00around the world whose influence has shaped and continues to shape the countries they call home.

00:07I am humbled by and I am grateful for all of them. I am especially grateful today for the ties that

00:14continue to bind India and Trinidad and Tobago. I am happy to be able to report that those ties

00:21are stronger today than they have ever been and that both countries continue to benefit

00:27immeasurably from each other's knowledge, experience and expertise. We share unerasable

00:35historical ties including our love of cricket. I am told that Brian Lara is as loved in India

00:43as Sachin Tendulkar is in Trinidad and Tobago. Our trade relations are robust with Trinidad and

00:50Tobago exporting iron, steel, ammonia, aromatic bitters and other products to India while

00:57importing pharmaceuticals, cashew nuts, fabrics, diamonds and other goods in return.

01:04We enjoy a rich cultural cooperation with countless agreements fostering the exchange between us

01:11of arts, music and more. India's kindness and generosity to the people of Trinidad and

01:18Tobago are legendary and have been shown time and time again, including during the

01:24crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic when 40,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Trinidad and

01:32Tobago as a result of the gracious response from the Honourable Sri Narendra Modi, Prime

01:38Minister of the Republic of India, to a letter sent by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

01:45That act of kindness only further strengthened the long-standing relationship between the

01:51governments and people of both countries. Today, by means of this ceremony and always by reason

01:59of our shared history and values and by reason of the kindness and generosity that exists between

02:04both nations, our hearts are joined with the hearts of the people of India and our destiny

02:12is inextricably entwined with yours. It is my hope and prayer that our nations will continue

02:19to thrive hand in hand, learning from each other, benefiting from each other and growing together.

02:27I have to say that I am also tremendously moved by the emphasis placed on young people

02:33in the Convention. Yesterday's programme was dedicated entirely to the youth.

02:39I believe that this can only augur well for the future. The youth are the engine of growth and

02:45development in any society. Empowering and supporting young people are vital for their

02:52and their society's growth and development. We all look forward to seeing today's youth,

02:58inspired and encouraged by yesterday's discussions, taking up the mantle of becoming

03:05tomorrow's leaders. In closing, I would like to again express my sincere gratitude to the

03:12Government of India for the honour of this award. As a daughter of the Indian Diaspora,

03:18as a national of Trinidad and Tobago and as a citizen of the world, I thank the Government and

03:24the people of India for your continued dedication to and emphasis on the role of the Indian

03:30Diaspora in achieving a goal common to all people—a safe, harmonious world in which all

03:38can grow and thrive in peace and prosperity. Thank you once again.