Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Guyana on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in 56 years.

In an unprecedented gesture, he was warmly received at the airport by Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and over a dozen cabinet ministers. Upon his arrival, PM Modi and President Ali exchanged pleasantries and shared a hug.

The Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour in Georgetown, Guyana.

During his visit, PM Modi is scheduled to address a special sitting of Guyana’s parliament. He will also participate in the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit alongside leaders from Caribbean partner nations.

Ahead of the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the significance of the trip, which is at the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. MEA Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar noted, “Recently, there has been an uptick in high-level engagements between India and Guyana. President Irfaan Ali was the chief guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January 2023.”

“We have a longstanding developmental partnership with Guyana in fields such as health, connectivity, and renewable energy. Last year, we supplied an ocean-going ferry built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) to Guyana. Additionally, two HAL 228 aircraft were delivered this year under a line of credit. Solar lighting has been provided to 30,000 households in indigenous communities, and 800 Guyanese ITEC alumni have studied in India. We aim to collaborate in areas like hydrocarbons, healthcare, education, and defence”, Mazumdar added.

Mazumdar said that during the visit, PM Modi will engage in delegation-level talks with President Irfaan Ali. He underscored Guyana’s status as the world’s fastest-growing economy, stating, “India is eager to explore opportunities for collaboration across a wide range of sectors.”