NEW YORK, USA — Caribbean Community (Caricom) foreign ministers attending the 70th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly met with their Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj here last Wednesday for the second ministerial meeting between both sides in less than six months.

A joint release issued after the meeting said discussions focused on the strengthening of India-Caricom relations; promotion of trade and business; enhancement of people-to-people contact, with particular emphasis on the training of young Caricom diplomats; and training in project management, information technology, and other related areas of strategic development.

With both sides agreeing that the existing levels of trade “are far below potential levels”, the Caricom officials welcomed a proposal by India to promote a trade event in the region next year.

Views were also exchanged on regional and multilateral issues, including climate change, sustainable development, and financing for such developments.

Caricom’s position on these and other issues were led by St Lucia’s Minister of External Affairs, Trade and Civil Aviation Alva Baptiste.

Jamaica, which was represented at the talks by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Arnold Nicholson, was singled out for its role on the UN Intergovernmental Negotiations on the reform of the UN Security Council.

Jamaica’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, is heading these negotiations, and with India actively seeking an expansion and a permanent seat on the Security Council, both sides agreed to work together for an early commencement of negotiations “consistent with UN General Assembly resolution 69/560”.