RUSHTON PARAY
THE RECENT visit of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US has highlighted the significant advantages that TT could gain from fostering closer relations with this Asian powerhouse.
During his visit, Modi received a warm reception from President Joe Biden, addressed the US Congress - an honour rarely bestowed - and engaged with India's thriving diaspora of 4.1 million people.
The acclaim and recognition accorded to Modi in the US and elsewhere is well-deserved, given his impressive track record of leading India to a remarkable 63 per cent economic growth during his nine years in office.
India now boasts the fifth largest economy in the world, with remarkable expansion across various sectors, including technology, which has witnessed a 40 per cent rise in investments and an eight-fold increase in manufacturing.
In his address to the US Congress, Modi rightly emphasised that the world is eager to learn more about India, its development, democracy and diversity.
India's innovative technology sector, attracting investments from leading global players, is valued at over $12 billion and contributes 53 per cent to the services sector, providing employment to nearly six million professionals.
Furthermore, India has established itself as a global leader in healthcare, agriculture, industrial development, food processing and other primary sectors.
With digitisation deeply ingrained in Indian society, its diaspora of 32 million people relies on the country's digital infrastructure for fund transfers, and this model has been emulated by 26 other nations.
India's consumer spending, fuelled by government outlays, investments and exports, positions it as the sixth-largest market in the world.
It comes as no surprise that Modi received a staggering 79 rounds of applause and 15 standing ovations during his congressional address.
As a visionary leader, Modi has set ambitious national goals to achieve self-reliance and propel India toward becoming a developed nation by its centennial of independence in 2047.
In contrast, TT's current administration, represented by the PNM, has merely paid lip service to the notion of "developed nation status," while the country grapples with poverty and crime.
According to the World Bank, the Modi administration has successfully lifted 415 million people out of poverty through initiatives focused on job creation, housing, sanitation, improved education and other direct interventions.
Modi places a significant emphasis on environmental sustainability, green energy (India's solar capacity has grown by an astounding 2,300 per cent in a decade), "knowledge with humanity," and food sovereignty.
Given the deep-rooted historical ties between India and TT, it is imperative for this nation, which is vulnerable due to its size, to cultivate close relations and derive measurable benefits from India.
India has generously provided TT, along with 149 other countries, with covid19 vaccines and it could extend further assistance to the country's pharmaceuti
