PRIME MINISTER BROWNE UPDATES CABINET ON HIS DISCUSSIONA WITH INDIA’S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER ON EXPANDING COOPERATION IN TRADE, FOOD SECURITY, HEALTHCARE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne updated the Cabinet on the bilateral discussions with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who was in Antigua and Barbuda to participate in the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding friendship between Antigua and Barbuda and India and to explore practical areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening trade, investment and development partnerships between the two countries.
Prime Minister Browne advised the cabinet that he expressed appreciation for India’s longstanding support to Antigua and Barbuda, recalling the assistance provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, when India made vaccines available to countries across the Caribbean, including approximately 40,000 doses to Antigua and Barbuda. He said he thanked the Indian Government for its contribution to the logistical arrangements for CHOGM, particularly the provision of transportation support that helped accommodate the thousands of delegates attending the meeting.
The Prime Minister noted that India had remained a dependable development partner since the establishment of diplomatic relations and expressed the Government’s desire to elevate the relationship through greater trade and investment. He proposed the development of a trade and investment agreement, supported by arrangements for investment protection and the avoidance of double taxation, to encourage greater commercial engagement between the two countries.
In discussing trade opportunities, Prime Minister Browne said that he identified agricultural and farming equipment, food-processing machinery, packaging technology and other competitively priced Indian products as areas of potential interest. He indicated that Antigua and Barbuda was seeking to diversify its sources of imports and strengthen its capacity to produce, process and preserve more food locally.
The Prime Minister reported that food security featured prominently in the discussions. He explained that Antigua and Barbuda experiences seasonal surpluses of agricultural produce, particularly mangoes, which are often lost because of limited local processing and preservation facilities.
He indicated that he had requested technical assistance from India to strengthen the country’s food-processing capacity, including training in preservation techniques and access to appropriate equipment. The Indian External Affairs Minister responded positively and proposed that India support the establishment of a model mango-processing facility through grant assistance. An Indian technical team would visit Antigua and Barbuda to assess the opportunities, recommend suitable processing technologies and identify the equipment and training required.
The Prime Minister further advised Cabinet that the Indian Minister suggested extending the initiative to root crops, including cassava and sweet potatoes, which could be processed into flour and other value-added products. The proposed model could demonstrate the viability of small-scale processing enterprises and encourage private-sector investment in similar facilities.
Prime Minister Browne welcomed the proposal, noting that improved processing and preservation would help reduce agricultural waste, strengthen domestic food production and advance national food and nutrition security.
The Prime Minister also updated Cabinet on discussions aimed at expanding cooperation in healthcare. He reported that India had indicated its willingness to provide Antigua and Barbuda with two sea ambulances equipped with medical facilities, as well as two field-hospital kits designed to support emergency and trauma care, particularly during disasters and other emergencies. The assistance is to be provided as a grant.
Cabinet was advised that arrangements would be pursued to formalise the proposed assistance and facilitate its implementation.
The discussions also explored the establishment of a more structured arrangement for Antiguans and Barbudans requiring specialised medical treatment in India. The Indian Minister indicated that both countries could work towards a formal agreement that would provide patients with an additional option for accessing specialised healthcare services.
The Prime Minister further proposed that a professional medical team assess the country’s healthcare infrastructure, including the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, to identify areas in which Indian expertise, technology and investment could support improvements. He expressed particular interest in advanced medical procedures, including robotic surgery, and the possible involvement of private Indian healthcare providers.
The Prime Minister reported that education and capacity building were also discussed, with particular emphasis on the need for additional mathematics teachers and improved teaching methodologies to strengthen student performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
He expressed interest in exploring opportunities for Indian teachers to support the secondary school system and for the introduction of smart technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance teaching and learning.
Cabinet was also informed that renewable energy development featured in the discussions. The Prime Minister highlighted the potential for India to provide technical expertise to accelerate Antigua and Barbuda’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, particularly through the expansion of solar energy.
He also pointed to opportunities for regional cooperation through the International Solar Alliance, of which India is a member, noting that technical assistance could benefit Antigua and Barbuda and other countries within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States as they pursue renewable energy projects and seek to reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of broadening Antigua and Barbuda’s international partnerships and creating additional opportunities for trade, investment and technical cooperation. He expressed confidence that India could become an increasingly important economic and development partner, particularly in areas where its expertise, technology and manufacturing capacity could address the needs of small island developing states.
He reported that the Indian External Affairs Minister welcomed the proposals and reaffirmed India’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda. Technical teams and relevant institutions could be engaged to advance the areas discussed, particularly food processing, healthcare and capacity building.
The discussions also included an exchange on the successful hosting of CHOGM 2026 and the Commonwealth’s continuing efforts to advance reparatory justice and strengthen cooperation among member states.
Prime Minister Browne expressed appreciation for India’s continued friendship and support and indicated that he looked forward to visiting India in the first quarter of 2027, when further discussions could help advance the proposed development partnership.
Cabinet was advised that both sides had expressed a shared commitment to translating the discussions into practical initiatives that would strengthen bilateral relations and deliver tangible benefits to the people of Antigua and Barbuda and India.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: India offers Antigua and Barbuda mango-processing facility, sea ambulances and field-hospital kits.