India, Guyana sign key pacts to strengthen ties

NEW DELHI: India and Guyana on Wednesday signed a raft of memoranda of understanding across several key sectors including health, hydrocarbons, agriculture and banking to deepen their bilateral relationship, while agreeing to strengthen their cooperation in areas such as defence, urban development, education and food security, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the South American country, the first by an Indian PM in 56 years.

- Rahul Singh

The 10 MoUs signed in Guyana's capital Georgetown included the possibility of deployment of Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-like real-time payment system in Guyana, strengthening cultural cooperation, collaborating and exchanging information in the field of regulation of medicines, and supply of medicines to public procurement agencies of Caricom (Caribbean Community) countries at affordable prices.

The MoU on cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector includes sourcing of crude, collaboration in natural gas, development of infrastructure, capacity building and sharing expertise in the entire hydrocarbon value chain. The MoU relating to agriculture and allied sectors seeks to promote cooperation through joint activities, and exchange of scientific materials, information and personnel.

Another one is aimed at fostering cooperation in the areas of digital transformation through capacity building, training programmes, exchange of best practices, and exchange of public officials and experts.