Strengthen Ties with India

Aug 18, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

India observed the 77^th anniversary of its independence last August 15. India has significant influence on former colonies, including Guyana and several West Indian territories) of empires. India has doled out enormous developmental aid to former colonies like Guyana, Suriname, etc., to build infrastructure and to lift standard of living. India has been increasing its economic, political, and cultural connections with every country including those in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. India is an increasingly important player in the world stage, a key driver of global growth, accounting for over 15% of world’s total economic output. India has very strong trade ties with many countries and is also a major source of skilled immigrants, many of whom invested money for startups and job creation.

India’s independence in 1947 paved the way for dozens of other colonies in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, including Guyana’s, belonging to France, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, and Britain. Former colonies have looked to India (since formation of the Non-Aligned Movement in the 1950s, BRICS, and international organizations) for global leadership on political events and economic development. India is an increasingly important country with a growing economy (economic powerhouse) and population and having a vast array of human resources in every area imaginable. India is also an agricultural powerhouse, a leader in production of several commodities. India has become the fastest growing major economy over the last decade with the world’s largest middle class that is the size of the middle class of all of Europe combined. Not surprisingly, every developed country and major economy have turned to India for trade treaties or economic cooperation.

India is the most populous country in the world with its economy growing rapidly. It has the fifth largest GDP and is among the top seven most industrialized nations. It also has the largest pool of ‘uncontrolled’ (free to migrate unlike Chinese skilled personnel) technical labor, including engineers and medical personnel, and ITech specialists, who are prized by foreign multinationals and wooed for settlement abroad. India is also a nuclear power and has a large military force. It has joined the club of space explorers and has been launching satellites including for commercial purposes; India launched European, Asian, and American satellites in space. And using its own satellites, India has shared information on climate and agricultural challenges with developing countries.

India is a major destination for students from developing countries like Guyana and from Africa and Asia, acquiring a skill set. Developed countries are destinations for Indian professionals seeking education and or work opportunities in technical industries. Even Guyana has recruited some skilled personnel from India in various sectors including medical, engineering, agriculture, and computer. India has rendered considerable developmental assistance to Guyana and Caribbean territories; in fact, on a per capita basis, Guyana is the largest recipient of India’s assistance in the west. Indian companies have also invested in Guyana.

Vishnu Bisram

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Guyana, India, influence, Suriname, Vishnu Bisram

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