Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) July 03, 2025 (ANI): India’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, highlighted the deep-rooted Indian diaspora in the country, noting that nearly half the population is of Indian origin, many in their 5th or 6th generation. He said the community has preserved Indian culture and traditions for over 180 years and is excited about PM Modi’s visit, viewing India as an inspiration and key partner in the Global South.On PM Modi's visit to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago said, "There is a sizable population, about half of the population of this country of Indian origin...They have been here for the last 180 years. Many of them are in their 5th and 6th generation. The Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago has maintained and preserved well our traditions, culture, values, festivals...There is great excitement among the diaspora. They very regularly follow developments taking place in India...There is a force of inspiration that they find in india's leadership and they are also looking towards India as a partner in the Global South..."
00:00How do you see the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Trinidad and Tobacco?
00:05The visit here is a lot of enthusiasm and great excitement among the people here in Trinidad.
00:12The government, it is a long awaited visit and everyone is actually looking forward to this visit.
00:22The holiday has been declared on this day and I see all around banners, roads, full atmosphere is all with enthusiasm and lot of energy here in Trinidad and Tobacco.
00:38This is the first bilateral visit of the Indian Prime Minister Trinidad and Tobacco since 1999. How does it signify this visit?
00:49Well as you have seen 1999 and 2005 lot of things have changed. That was the last bilateral visit from our side.
00:59In 2009 we had visit of Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister but that was just to attend the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of States meeting here.
01:09This visit is significant as it is taking place after a long time.
01:16At this time there is already an intense desire in Trinidad and Tobacco for greater engagement and collaboration in a range of areas.
01:30And in this context people and the government both are highly desirous of getting into long standing partnership, a broad based partnership between India and Trinidad and Tobacco.
01:45They wish to be benefiting from our world class modernization and growing economy, digital transformation, agriculture technologies and many other areas, healthcare, education.
02:00So not just that they have familial ties and not just that they have people to people ties, they wish to be part of India's growth and development journey.
02:14What can we expect in terms of discussion between the two leaders, any major outcomes?
02:22As you know Prime Minister Modi had visited Guyana last year for the second India CARICOM summit and a number of areas were discussed and several announcements were made by our Prime Minister.
02:36Many of those areas including agriculture, information technology, health and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and many other areas, capacity building, trade promotion, these are the areas likely to be discussed between the two sides.
02:53And we expect some tangible outcomes and we expect some tangible outcomes out of the Honorable Prime Minister's visit.
03:00The government of Trinidad and Tobacco is indeed, and this is a new government which is of Indian origin Prime Minister and several ministers in the cabinet are of Indian origin.
03:11There is a great enthusiasm among them that they bring in all those benefits of India's growth journey.
03:21They are the first country in the Caribbean region, in the CARICOM region to adopt India's flagship UPI platform and they are in the process of its implementation.
03:32The visit is also significant because the people of Trinidad and Tobacco are commemorating 180 years of the arrival of their first ancestors to the shores of Trinidad and Tobacco way back on May 30, 1845.
03:48So this is a historic occasion, landmark occasion that a visit at such a high level from India is taking place to this country.
03:58There is a significant Indian's contact between these two nations. How much is the Indian community?
04:09A theoristic about the Prime Minister's visit?
04:14Well, as you said, there is a sizeable population. About half of the population of this country is of Indian origin. They come from the parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and some from the south of India.
04:29They are here for the last 180 years. Many of them are in their fifth and sixth generation. Despite being such a long time and despite being for so many generations, the Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobacco have maintained and preserved well our traditions, culture, values, festivals and many things.
04:53As we go out and see, they live mostly in south and central of Trinidad. When we go there and meet them and interact with them, you do not feel like you are out of India, our country.
05:04So there is a great excitement among them, the diaspora. They very regularly follow developments taking place in India, various addresses and their journeys of Prime Minister Modi all across the globe.
05:20And there is a source of inspiration that they find in India's leadership. And they are also looking towards India as a partner in the global south.
05:30The Indian diaspora with their deep rooted cultural ties and in the process of modernization and development, they see India as a role model in the process.
05:47Sir, my last question. What are the areas that both nations are looking to expand the collaboration in?
05:55There are several areas, but as you see, we look for Trinidad and Tobago as the largest country in the Caribbean region as our major supporter. Other smaller countries follow the policies and decisions of this country.
06:11So in the process of our Vixit Bharat, we see Trinidad and Tobago has an important role from this part of the world in terms of their supporting to India's various initiatives and candidatures in multilateral forums, in terms of economic engagement, in terms of regional partnership.
06:32This country is important in the Caricom region. And from Trinidad and Tobago's point of view, India is a leading voice in the priorities of the global south.
06:45Smaller island countries, their priorities are mostly relating to climate change, sustainable development, disaster management. And in that process, they see India as a natural partner.
06:57So there are complementarities on both sides. And as the visit progresses, you will get to know several initiatives and outcomes being announced, which will have a long lasting partnership process.
