Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados on Thursday on the sidelines of the India-CARICOM Summit.

The two leaders discussed key areas of cooperation, including science and technology, healthcare, education, climate change, and agriculture.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Had a very good meeting with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados. Our talks covered areas such as science and technology, healthcare, education, climate change, and agriculture.”

He also expressed gratitude to the government and people of Barbados for conferring upon him the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados Award, dedicating the honor to the people of India.

PM Mottley described PM Modi’s visit as a “historic moment” for the CARICOM nations.

“I think we are all happy that we can have this opportunity to meet with PM Narendra Modi. It is a historic moment for most of us in CARICOM to be able to meet with and have the CARICOM-India dialogue at the level of Heads of Government,” she said.

The Barbados Prime Minister, while speaking to reporters, noted that the two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, highlighting that these ongoing interactions “speaks of the strength of the relationship between the two regions”.

India and Barbados share close and cordial relations, actively collaborating at the UN, Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and other international forums.

According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Barbados has supported India’s candidature in various multilateral platforms, including elections within UN bodies.

Barbados is home to approximately 3,000 people of Indian origin, many of whom have since acquired local nationality.

(With ANI input)