Saint Lucia
St. Lucia and India enjoy cordial bilateral relations, actively cooperating in international organizations like the United Nations, Commonwealth, and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) as well as other multilateral platforms. The bilateral ties have sustained momentum through exchange of high-level visits.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- As a token of solidarity, Govt. of India provided life-saving drugs and protective gear worth US$ 100,000 to the Govt. and people of St. Lucia to assist in their fight against Covid 19 pandemic, which were handed over to Govt. of St. Lucia on August 12, 2020.
- GoI also donated 25,000 doses of Made in India Covishield vaccine to St. Lucia on March 1, 2021.
- Under the India-UNDP Fund, St. Lucia received $1 million for a COVID-19 response project, including medical supplies and public assistance.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- ICCR under its Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme offered 2 slots for the year 2022-23 & 5 slots for the year 2023-24, to nationals of Saint lucia to pursue higher studies in India.
- As part of capacity building trainings, nearly 65 professionals from St. Lucia have been trained in India under ITEC since 2002. Of these, 38 professionals have been trained just in the previous 9 years since 2014-15.
- The project "Upgrading Saint Lucia's capacity for Vocational Training for Marginalized Youth," funded by the India-UNDP Fund, is ongoing with a budget of $992,724 and nearing completion.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- India handed over a cash donation of US$ 500,000/- to St Lucia towards assistance in recovery and rehabilitation following flash floods in December 2013. Earlier, in December, 2010, India had made a cash donation of US$ 500,000/- towards recovery and rehabilitation following Hurricane Tomas. A donation of USD 250000 for reconstruction of St. Jude Hospital.
- In September 2019, the India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Project titled "Poverty Reduction in St. Lucia through Livestock Development" was completed, with a budget of US$1,291,100. The project consists of two components, with the UNDP serving as the implementing agency. The second component, a public assistance program, was implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) with a budget of US$0.5 million.
- The project, "Upgrading Saint Lucia's capacity to provide Impactful Vocational Training for Marginalized Youth," funded by the India-UNDP Fund, is currently underway with a total budget of US$992,724 and is likely to complete soon.
- The External Affairs Minister of India offered Saint Lucia a grant of USD 1 Million for a project in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector. However, an Expression of Interest is still awaited from the Saint Lucian side.
- India has extended support to community development projects in St. Lucia under the India-UNDP Fund. One project to the value of US$ 1 million on “Human Security and Sustainable Development – a Covid 19 Response” was implemented through UNOSCC and WFP in two components with
- Providing urgent medical supplies to strengthen the national healthcare capacity (US $ 0.5 million) and
- A Public assistance programme to the tune of US$ 0.5 million.
- A project on “upgrading St. Lucia’s capacity to provide impactful vocational training for marginalized youth” amounting to US $ 1,061,601 is nearing completion as the crucial part of the project Center for Adolescent Renewal and Education (C.A.R.E.) Hospitality and Catering Unit has already been handed over.
- St. Lucia has also benefited under IBSA Fund wherein a project concerning Poverty Reduction through Livestock Development for a sum of US$ 1,291,100/- was completed in September, 2018 (duration of the project was June 2015 to September 2018). India has also joined CariCom Development Fund (CDF) as its International Development Partner in January, 2019 with contribution of US$ one million and St. Lucia is also a member of CDF.
- India supported St. Lucia with a cash donation of US$500,000/- towards assistance in recovery and rehabilitation following flash floods in December, 2013.
- Earlier, in December, 2010, India had made a cash donation of US$500,000/- towards recovery and rehabilitation following Hurricane Tomas.
- In 2010, India had extended financial assistance of US$ 250,000/- and medical equipment valued at over 200,000 US$ towards reconstruction and rehabilitation of St. Jude hospital.
Completed Non-Infrastructure Project
- In August, 2021 an assistance of US$ 496,053 was given from I-UNDP Fund for Human Security and Sustainable development- A COVID-19 response.
- In August, 2021 an assistance of US$ 503,947 was given from I-UNDP Fund for Human Security and Sustainable development- A COVID-19 response.
- Ongoing Project: In July, 2019 an assistance of US$ 99,724 was given from I-UNDP Fund for the project 21st century youth empowerment skills training for marginalized youth.
