Trinidad and Tobago adopts India’s UPI, PM Modi pledges agro, health, education aid
New Delhi, Jul 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Trinidad and Tobago from July 3 to 4 marked a significant expansion of India’s development partnership with the Caribbean nation, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation, healthcare, agriculture, and education. In a key outcome, Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean country to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), strengthening bilateral cooperation in digital public infrastructure. Both sides also agreed to explore further collaboration on India Stack solutions, including DigiLocker, e-Sign, and the Government e-Marketplace. India pledged a series of developmental assistance initiatives during the visit.
Prime Minister Modi announced the donation of 2,000 laptops to support Trinidad and Tobago’s national digital education programme and encouraged deeper academic exchanges under Indian scholarship schemes.
On the healthcare front, India committed to organising a prosthetic limb fitment camp for 800 individuals and handed over 20 haemodialysis units and two sea ambulances. The two countries also advanced pharmaceutical cooperation following Trinidad and Tobago’s recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia standards, which is expected to improve access to quality and affordable medicines.
In agriculture, India gifted agro-machinery worth USD 1 million for food processing and storage and offered expertise in natural farming, seaweed-based fertilizers, and millet cultivation. The first consignment of machinery was symbolically handed over during the visit. Other agreements included Memoranda of Understanding in sports, cultural exchange, and quick-impact development projects. India also supported efforts to digitize land records and extended offers of training and capacity building in governance, education, and the justice system. The visit coincided with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago and reflected a broader strategic intent to deepen India's engagement with the Caribbean region through technology, development cooperation, and diaspora ties.
