Brief on India - Grenada Bilateral Relations

The relationship between India and Grenada goes back to May 1, 1857 when the first ship ‘Maidstone’ carrying 287 Indian indentured workers reached the shores of Grenada, then a British colony, from which it gained independence in 1974. A total of 3,200 Indians arrived in Grenada between 1857 and 1885. A total of 302 Indians choose to repatriate to India, after indentureship came to an end in 1890. The remaining stayed back in Grenada and assimilated into the society. 

2. India enjoys traditionally cordial relations with Grenada. India established diplomatic relations with Grenada on October 1, 1975. Grenada is concurrently accredited to our Mission in Port of Spain. In Dec 2024, Grenada appointed its Non-resident High Commissioner of India (Mr. Pasupuleti Gita Kishore Kumar, Indian-origin businessman settled in Grenada).

Exchange of visits 

3. Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell visited India from July 26-30, 2006 in connection with preparation for the Cricket World Cup 2007 held in West Indies. He had paid a courtesy call on then PM Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. 

4. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with PM Dr Keith Mitchell during the 1st India-CARICOM Summit on the margins of the UNGA in New York in Sept 2019. The current PM of Grenada Mr Dickon Mitchell, in capacity as Chair of CARICOM, co-chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit with PM Shri Narendra Modi in Georgetown, Guyana on Nov 20, 2024. Both leaders had a separate bilateral meeting at that time where they discussed collaboration in the areas of education, ICT, healthcare, food security, cricket, capacity building, sustainable development, among others. 

5. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S. Jaishankar had a telephonic conversation with Mr. Peter David on April 29, 2020 regarding pandemic, and discussed matters of health cooperation and development partnership. EAM met with Grenada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Export Development Mr Joseph Andall on the sidelines of India-COFCOR Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana (April 21, 2023). He participated in the Foreign Ministers' Session at the Virtual Session of the Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) 3.0 on August 17, 2024. Mr. Joseph Andall participated in the India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines of UNGA in New York on Sep 27, 2024. 

6. Other Ministerial-level exchanges between India and Grenada:

A. From Grenada Side:

i) Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Peter David visited Gujarat on Sep 12-14, 2019 and had a meeting with CM of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani. 

ii) Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy Ms Kerryne Z. James led a two-member delegation to the 6th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi from Oct 30 – Nov 1, 2023.

iii) Minister for Mobilization, Implementation and Transformation Mr Andy Williams led a two-member delegation to the 9th CII India-LAC Conclave in New Delhi from August 3-5, 2023.

iv) Minister for Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs Mr. Gayton Jonathan LaCrette participated in the Health Ministers’ Virtual Session of the VOGSS 1.0 on Jan 13, 2023.

v) Mr.  Philip A. Telesford, Minister of Health attended the 10th CII India-LAC Conclave in New Delhi from March 19-20, 2025.

B. From Indian side:

i) MoS for Health & Family Welfare Smt Anupriya Patel visited Grenada on May 13-14, 2018 and had called on the Governor General, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Health Minister of the country.

ii) MoS for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Parshottam Rupala had a virtual meeting with Grenada’s Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry Mr. Charles David on May 27, 2021.

7. MoS Visit to Grenada: Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Shri Pabitra Margherita paid an Official Visit to Grenada from Oct 3-5, 2024. MoS witnessed the ceremonial opening of the 3rd Session of the 11th Parliament of Grenada. He had a meeting with Prime Minister Mr Dickon Mitchell and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations in a range of area, including digital transformation, ICT, development partnership, capacity building, pharmaceuticals, India-CARICOM relations, and other international issues of mutual interest. MoS interacted with Governor-General of Grenada Ms Dame Cécile La Grenade, Speaker of House of Representatives Mr Leo Cato and President of the Senate Dr Dessima D Williams, and several other dignitaries at the Parliament. He held wide-ranging discussion with Mr. Joseph Andall, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Export Development. MoS also interacted with the Indian Diaspora in Grenada at a function organized at the Grenada Trade Centre.

Development partnership

8. Grenada National Health Insurance Programme Support Project under IBSA Fund at a cost of US$ 6,27,633 started in 2018 and was completed in 2019.

9. Quick Impact Projects: GoI has fully funded two infrastructure development projects in Grenada: 

i) Construction of Union Community Centre in the Parish of St. Marks at a cost of USD 6,10,075. It was opened to public in December 2021; 

ii) BelleVue Road Project: At a cost of USD 2,91,723; completed in 2017. 

10. ICT Centre for Excellence & Innovation in Grenada: Following the signing of a MoU in October 2008, an ICT Centre for Excellence & Innovation ICT Center for Excellence and Innovation (ICEI) in Frequente, St. George’s was set up at Industrial Development Corporation, an autonomous government body, in St. George’s, at a cost of USD 0.8 million. The Centre was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Grenada Mr. Tillman Thomas on April 15, 2011. C-DAC deputed 3 experts for training for 2 years till 2013 and then the Centre was handed over to the Government of Grenada. Later, it was shifted to T.A. Marryshow Community College in Feb 2016. 

11. India-UNDP Projects: 

i) Mt. Horne Child Development Centre in the rural parish of St Andrew was constructed under India-UNDP Fund at a cost of US$ 300,000 and technical support from UNICEF. The project began in 2018 and was completed in 2019. It opened in early 2020, however, the official opening ceremony was held in Feb 2023 due to delays caused by the pandemic. The Centre aims to provide care, protection and educational services to infants and toddlers from low-income families in the Mount Horne and surrounding communities, in the rural parish of St Andrew. 

ii) New incinerator for the General hospital project: The project, supported with a grant of US$ 100,000 under India-UNDP Fund, aims to install an incinerator for disposal of bio-medical waste. This is part of PM’s announcements on 25 Sept 2019 following his meeting with CARICOM leaders in New York. A housing unit has been erected and the equipment have been sourced. The project has been currently stuck due to inadequate size of the housing unit for the Incinerator. 

12. Capacity Building: India has been contributing to the capacity building of Grenada under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. In 2023, the number of annual training slots were increased from 10 to 15 in the fields of improving ICT skills, management and training in SMEs.

13. Humanitarian Assistance: During Hurricane Ivan in 2004, India provided emergency relief including medical supplies and roofing material. India also donated medical aid including Covid-19 vaccines to Grenada during the pandemic in 2020.

Economic relations

14. For FY 2024-25, Indian exports amounted to USD 4.45 million, while imports stood at USD 0.29 million. Top items of Indian exports include vehicles; pharmaceuticals; Iron and Steel; tobacco; apparels etc. Top items of Indian imports include coffee, tea, mate, spices; electrical machinery and equipment; Copper; Iron and Steel etc. 

                                                         (In USD millions)

(Source: DGCIS, Kolkata)

Cultural relations

15. Indian Arrival Day and Phagwa/Holi are celebrated widely in Grenada. On the 75th Foundation Day of ICCR, Mission organized a cultural event in Grenada on 02 April 2024, with performances by an ICCR-sponsored-folk Bhojpuri group led by Shri Bhola Pandey in St. George’s. It was attended by Mr. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and several Ministers. 

16. A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was installed in MacDonald College in January 2013. The road leading to the site of the first Indians' arrival has been named as 'Maidstone Road' after the first ship which brought Indian indentured workers to Grenada and a commemorative plaque has been raised at that site where Indians arrived - Irwin’s Bay, St Patrick, northern part of the island of Grenada.

17. Mission, in collaboration with Indian diaspora, has been celebrating Independence Day and Republic Day in Grenada. The 79th Independence Day (Aug 15, 2025) was celebrated at Tempe Playing Field with Foreign Minister Mr. Joseph Andall as the Chief Guest. Mission has started organizing International Day of Yoga (IDY) in Grenada. The 11th IDY was organized at Crown Point in Grenada on June 19, 2025. Mission also organized Gandhi Jayanti at Grenada Trade Centre on Oct 2, 2024. 

Indian Community

18. There are over 12,000 Indo-Grenadians, which is around 11% of Grenada's total population. This includes people of Indian and Mixed-Indian descent who are businessmen, professionals, academics, and Indian American students. Around 700-800 Indian citizens reside in Grenada, comprising small-scale businessmen, professionals and academics who teach at the St. George’s University (SGU) of Grenada, as well as a variable number of Indian medical students at SGU. 

Consular

19. Since May 2011, Grenada has waived visa requirement for Indian nationals visiting Grenada for tourism and business purposes for a period of three months. Since 2014, Government of India has approved e-Tourist Visa for citizens of Grenada for visits up to 90 days. Mission has organized Consular Camps in Grenada from time-to-time.

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September 2025