BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 26, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – At a meeting held at Government Headquarters today (April 26), the Governments of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of India discussed possible areas for future collaboration in which both countries can engage in the near future.
The discussions between Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in India, Shri C.R. Choudhary, covered areas of cooperation in the fields of renewable energy development, trade, agriculture and health, as well as the issue of visa free travel.
Prime Minister Harris noted that St. Kitts and Nevis and India have maintained a longstanding and beneficial relationship, which can be further strengthened.
Dr. Harris insisted that while there are many sectors in which the twin island federation can benefit through partnership with the Republic of India, the three areas he believes can bear low-lying fruits for St. Kitts and Nevis are renewable energy development, support in the education sector and technical support in the field of agriculture, particularly as it relates to cultivation.
“You have the expertise, you have the knowhow [and] you will know the skill set which you need to send on the ground to help because part of the issue is that we have capacity constraints,” the prime minister said.
Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris also used the occasion to reiterate that St. Kitts and Nevis has unilaterally removed visa requirements for all Indian nationals and all passport holders, noting that “we think it would be a very good gesture if in fact you were to reciprocate that.”
On February 16, 2018, St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of India signed a visa waiver agreement for Diplomatic and Official/Service Passport Holders.
That agreement was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Government, the Honourable Mark Brantley and High Commissioner of India to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Venkatachalam Mahalingnam .
