DAKSHIN

St. Vincent & Grenadines

Since establishment of diplomatic relations, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), which became independent on 27 October 1979, enjoys cordial and friendly ties with India. Both countries interact actively in the U.N., Commonwealth and NAM and various other international fora. SVG supported India’s candidature for Non-Permanent seat at UNSC, gave assurances for future support and has also committed support for India’s bid for Permanent Membership of UNSC as part of the L69 group. India has also supported SVG’s non-permanent membership of UNSC.

Restoration of Port Elizabeth Bequia Market

PM and EAM

Under Vaccine Maitri, India extended support to Barbados during Covid19 pandemic

Restoration of Port Elizabeth Bequia Market

Glenside recreation centre

Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic

Govt. of India provided life saving drugs and protective gear worth US$ 100000 to Govt. and people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines to assist in their fight against Covid 19 pandemic, which were handed over to Govt. of SVG in September 2020. As a gesture of solidarity, GoI donated 40,000 doses of made in India Covishield vaccine to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in March 2021.

Capacity Building & Other Exchanges

India has provided 5 ITEC slots to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the year 2019-20.
As part of capacity building trainings, nearly 23 professionals from St. Vincent & Grenadines have been trained in India under ITEC since 2002. Of these, 9 professionals have been trained just in the previous 9 years since 2014-15.
Two Foreign Service officials Affairs participated in the PCFD/CARICOM special diplomatic training programme at Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi in 2017, two in PCFD (one in 2019 and other in 2022) and three under special training programme for CariCom Diplomats in June 2019.
Two senior-level customs officials participated in the India-Caricom special training programme in customs and taxes held in India in June 2019 under ITEC.
The Government of India has deputed Dr. Pranaya Kumar Parida, Scientist, under the Ministry of External Affairs ITEC programme as an expert with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Secretariat, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a period of 36 months for assisting with fisheries assessment/statistical analysis/development plan formulation activities.
ICCR under its Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme offered 2 slots from 2022-23 onwards, to pursue higher studies in India.

Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)

India has handed over a cash donation of US$500,000/- towards assistance in recovery and rehabilitation following flash floods in December, 2013.
India had made a cash donation of US$100,000/- towards recovery and rehabilitation following Hurricane Tomas in October 2010 and April 2011 flash floods and landslides.
India provided an assistance of US 1.33 million to SVG in 2017 under UNIDO for modernization of Arrowroot Industry for climate change resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods for indigenous communities.
EAM also offered SVG USD 1 Million for a grant project in the SME sector during India-COFCOR meeting held in Georgetown on 21 April 2023.
India-UN Development Partnership Fund provided Govt. of SVG an assistance of US $1.3 million (a cost escalation of USD 300,000 was approved in 2022 taking the total assistance to US$1,334,267) to SVG in 2017 for modernization of Arrowroot Industry for climate change resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods for indigenous communities. The new deadline for completion is March 2024.
India provided an assistance of US 1.03 million to SVG in 2017 under UNIDO for modernization of Arrowroot Industry for climate change resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods for indigenous communities.
A grant of US$14 mn (1 mn for each CARICOM member states) for community development-related projects was announced during the meeting of the Prime Minister of India with the CARICOM leaders in Sept 2019. Under this SVG has submitted a proposal for two projects:
Construction of an Administrative Complex in North Leeward at a cost of USD 500,000.00.
Construction of a Learning Resource Centre at Mt. Bentick, Georgetown at a cost of US$ 500,000.00.
During the visit of Hon’ble President of India in May 2022, the First Lady Smt. Savita Kovind visited a School of Special Needs separately and donated US$ 25,000/- to the Governor General’s Charitable Fund.
Ongoing Project: In June 2019 an assistance of US$ 1,334,267 was given from I-UNDP Fund for the project - Arrowroot Industry modernisation for sustainable and climate resilient rural livelihoods.

Quick Impact Projects (QIPs)

Four quick impact grant projects and an arrowroot modernization grant project are underway in SVG with a US$ 200,000 and a US$ 1.3 million Indian grant respectively. Two other projects are to be undertaken under a US$ 1 million Caricom grant extended by India.

The four projects are :

Rehabilitation and Transforming the Derelict Chatuebelair Agriculture Deport into a processing and training facility at a cost of USD 40,740/-.
Refurbishment of the Old Calder Community Center at USD 40,863/-.
“Community Development Project for Glenside Village Marriaqua” at USD 39,796/- .
Port Elizabeth Bequia Market Repairs and Restoration at USD 30,000/- SVG has submitted a further five proejcts under QIP for the current financial year for a total grant assistance of USD 250000.