Finance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred with the Dominica Award of Honour, the Commonwealth of Dominica’s highest national honour. President Sylvanie Burton handed the medal to Prime Minister Modi in gratitude of his contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and commitment to improving India-Dominica relations.
Upon receiving the prestigious award, PM Modi expressed his gratitude, saying, “This honour is not only mine but of 140 crore people of India, their efforts, their values and their tradition. We are two democracies, and we together are role models of women’s empowerment for the world. It is a matter of deep satisfaction that we were able to help the people of Dominica during a pandemic like Covid-19.”
India and Dominica have had friendly diplomatic ties since 1981, with multiple high-level interactions between the two nations. PM Modi and PM Skerrit first met during the 2019 India-CARICOM Leaders’ Meeting in New York.
The relationship has been defined by ongoing collaboration on a variety of activities, including India’s assistance to Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic. India’s Vaccine Maitri project, for example, sent 70,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Dominica in 2021.
Additionally, India has been aggressive in assisting Dominica’s growth. India has given USD 1 million through the India-UNDP Project in Kalinago to help the Kalinago people improve their sustainable lifestyles. India has also committed an extra USD 1 million for the Community Resilience Project’s second phase, which will begin in 2024.
The Indian diaspora in Dominica, which numbers over 500 persons of Indian descent, plays an important role in improving cultural and economic ties between the two nations. Members of the diaspora work in retail, medicine, and academia, including Ross Medical University.
