India - Trinidad and Tobago Bilateral Relations

The relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago goes back to May 30, 1845, when the first ship ‘Fatel Razack’ carrying 225 Indian indentured workers reached the shores of Trinidad, then a British colony. Their numbers increased with subsequent arrival of more ships from India till 1917. The descendants of those indentured workers, now in their fifth or sixth generation, form nearly 40-45% of the total population of 1.36 million, constituting an integral part of the economic, political and social fabric of the country. 

2. India enjoys traditionally warm and cordial relations with Trinidad and Tobago. The bilateral relations were established on August 31, 1962. Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries have witnessed continued momentum with engagement at different levels. Trinidad and Tobago has a diplomatic Mission in India since 1969. 

Exchange of Visits

3. There has been exchange of high-level visits between the two countries from time-to-time. From Trinidad & Tobago, PM Basdeo Panday paid a State Visit to India in 1997 as Chief Guest on Republic Day. PM Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar paid a State visit to India in January 2012 and was the Chief Guest at Pravasi Bharatiya. 
   
   
4. From Indian side, PM Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid a State Visit to Trinidad and Tobago in February 1999. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh led a high-level delegation for CHOGM Summit in Port of Spain in November 2009. The leaders have also been meeting on the sidelines of multilateral forums from time-to-time. PM Shri Narendra Modi was the first foreign leader to congratulate newly-elected Prime Minister of T&T Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar on April 29, 2025. 
   
   
5. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Trinidad and Tobago on July 3-4, 2025. PM was conferred with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT), the highest National Award of the country. PM also addressed a Joint Assembly of the both Houses of the T&T Parliament. A total of 6 MoUs/Agreements were exchanged during the visit in the fields of Pharmacopoeia, Diplomatic Training, Quick Impact Projects, Culture, Sports, and for setting up of Chairs of Hindi and Indian Studies at the University of West Indies. PM handed over agro-processing machinery worth USD 1 million to T&T’s National Agriculture Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO). PM also addressed a larger gathering of the Indian diaspora (more than 4,000) at the National Cycling Centre, Couva in Central Trinidad.
   
   
6. President of T&T Chief Guest at PBD 2025: H.E. Ms. Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of Trinidad and Tobago virtually graced the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) in Bhubaneswar as the Chief Guest, and delivered an address on the occasion. She was conferred with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) at the National Day Reception organized by the Mission on January 26, 2025.
   
   
7. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to T&T on May 8-9, 2026 and had wide-ranging discussions with PM Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar. A total of 8 MoUs were signed between the two sides in the areas of tourism, solarization of T&T’s Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs building, vector control, infrastructure upgrade of Nelson Island and for setting up of an Indian Chair on Ayurveda at the University of the West Indies. EAM handed over the first set of 2,000 laptops to school children, jointly inaugurated an agro-processing facility of NAMDEVCO in Couva and the National Prosthetics Centre of T&T in Penal. He also addressed a large gathering of Indian diaspora of T&T.
   
   
8. MoS Visit to T&T: Shri Pabitra Margherita, MoS for External Affairs paid an official visit to T&T from 23-24 August 2024. He called on the then PM Keith Rowley and had bilateral talks with Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Dr Amery Browne. MoS also visited the Parliament (Red House) and paid a courtesy call on President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
   
   
9. Ministerial visits from T&T side: Dr Rishad Seecharan, Minister in the Ministry of Health attended 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi on Dec 17-19, 2025. Dr Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries is visiting India to attend India Energy Week in Goa from January 27-30, 2026. Mr Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration & AI attended AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in Feb 2026.

Parliamentary Exchanges

10. Parliamentarians of India and Trinidad & Tobago have traditionally enjoyed close relations. The Chair of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in T&T Parliament was gifted by Government of India in 1968. A 6-member delegation led by Speaker of Lok Sabha, Smt. Meira Kumar visited T&T in January 2012 to attend the Commonwealth Speakers & Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC). The T&T Parliamentarians returned the visit in March 2012 when a 7-Member delegation jointly led by President of the Senate, Timothy Hamel-Smith and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Wade Mark. Four Members of T&T Parliament visited India under the 10th Gen Next Democracy Network Programme conducted by ICCR in May 2023. Mr Jagdeo Singh, Speaker of the House of Representatives attended the 28th CSPOC held in New Delhi from January 14-16, 2026. In March 2026, a Parliamentary Friendship Group for T&T has been created in the Parliament of India.

Institutional Dialogue Mechanisms

11. Joint Commission Meeting (JCM):The first meeting of the India-T&T JCM was held in New Delhi in Nov 2011. The T&T delegation was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan and the Indian side was led by EAM Shri S.M. Krishna.
    
    
12. Foreign Office Consultations (FOC):India and Trinidad and Tobago held the first round of FOCs in Port of Spain on 1 July 2011. The second round of FOC was held in Port of Spain on 16 August 2021. It was co-chaired by Mrs. Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary (East), MEA, and Mr. Bruce Lai, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign & CARICOM Affairs of T&T. 
    

Development Partnership

13. ‘HALT’ India-UNDP Fund Project: During the pandemic time, a US$ 1 million project, ‘Bringing High and Low Technology (HALT)’ was announced for T&T under India-UNDP Fund which was implemented through Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). It included 8 mobile healthcare robots, a telemedicine system, hand hygiene stations and Telemedicine equipment. The project was accomplished in August 2024.
    
    
14. Agro-processing Machinery Project: Agro-processing machinery (SME) worth USD 1 million for T&T’s National Agriculture Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) was handed over by PM Shri Narendra Modi to T&T’s PM Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar on July 4, 2025. The plant at NAMDEVCO facility in Brechin Castle, Couva was inaugurated by EAM and T&T PM on May 9, 2026.
    
    
15. Artificial Limb Fitment Camp: As announced by PM during his visit to T&T, a 50-day Jaipur Foot Camp was organized by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayta Samiti, Jaipur in collaboration with the office of PM of T&T at the Diwali Nagar in Central Trinidad for 800 beneficiaries from October - November, 2025. The camp received immense response and wide coverage in T&T and the region.
    
    
16. Quick Impact Projects (QIPs): During EAM’s visit to T&T on May 8, 2026, four MoUs (USD 50,000 each) were signed between for supply of Thermal Foggers for vector control in T&T. Another USD 50,000 MoU was signed between the two sides for infrastructure upgradation of the Nelson Island. There is work in progress for implementation of these projects.  
    
    
17. Solar electrification of MoFA Building: During the visit of PM to T&T in July 2025, it was announced to carry out solar electrification of T&T’s Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs. An MoU in this regard was signed during the visit of EAM to T&T in May 2026. The process is currently underway. 
    
    
18. Donation of Rice and Edible Oil by HAFED: A consignment of 19,000 MT Rice and 12,500 Liter edible oil was gifted by Mission on behalf of HAFED (Haryana State Cooperative Supply & Marketing Federation Limited) to the T&T Government in May 2025. 
    
    
19. Cooperation during Pandemic: In the middle of the pandemic, a consignment of medical aid donated by the Government of India (GoI) which was handed over to T&T side on November 23, 2020. Under the Vaccine Maitri Initiative, GoI donated 40,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine to T&T on April 13, 2021. 
    
    
20. Capacity Building: Training courses under India’s flagship ITEC programme have been offered to T&T for the last many years. At present, 130 ITEC slots are offered annually to T&T. A special training course for 10 Pandits of T&T was organized at Banaras Hindu University in November-December 2025.

Economic & Commercial Relations

21. Bilateral trade between India and T&T has grown significantly from the lows of COVID pandemic. Major items of India’s exports to Trinidad & Tobago are: Vehicles, Rolling Stock, Parts and Accessories; Iron and Steel; Pharmaceutical Products; Plastic and Articles etc. Major items of India’s Imports from T&Tare: Mineral Fuels, Mineral Oils and Products of their Distillation; Bituminous Substances; Mineral Waxes; Iron and Steel; Ores, Slag & Ash; Aluminum etc.  

(Source: Department of Commerce, GoI)

22. Adoption of UPI in T&T:NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) of India exchanged an Agreement with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of T&T on Sep 26, 2024 for developing a real-time and efficient Payments Platform similar to India’s flagship Unified Payments Interface (UPI). T&T is the first country in the Caribbean region to adopt the UPI platform. The process of rolling out the UPI is currently underway.
    
    
23. A 24-member delegation of T&T Manufacturing Association (TTMA) paid a visit to India from April 17-28, 2026 and had meetings with ASSOCHAM and PHD Chamber Of Commerce and Industry and other trade bodies
    
    
24. The Mission has been organizing events in collaboration with local Business Chambers and other trade bodies of T&T from time-to-time. This includes a trade promotion event with Chaguanas Chamber of Industry & Commerce on March 19, 2025, exploring pharmaceutical opportunities with PHARMEXCIL, TPCI, and FIEO; a business interaction with Greater San Fernando Chamber on August 9, 2025 to explore opportunities to boost bilateral economic and commercial engagement; an event on ‘Exploring Opportunities in Agriculture and Food Processing Sectors in India” on Dec 9, 2025 that was graced by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of T&T Mr Ravi Rattiram. 

People-to-People Relations

25. Know India Programme (KIP): There has been active participation of Indian diaspora youth from T&T in KIP over the years. More than 250 members of Diaspora have visited India under the KIP, including 24 in the FY 2025-26. 
    
    
26. Cultural Centre: The Mission has been engaged in active cultural diplomacy through its Cultural Wing, Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation (MGICC), which was set up in January 1997 under a bilateral Cultural Exchange Programme. Regular classes are conducted by India-based and local teachers in Indian classical music, dance, vocal and Yoga in several centres across the country. The Institute organizes a variety of cultural events, exhibitions and workshops, etc.
    
    
27. Cultural Troupes: A number of ICCR-sponsored cultural troupes have visited T&T in recent times staging performances across the country and have received enthusiastic response from the people. This includes a 9-member Bhojpuri folk dance troupe led by Shri Bhola Pandey in April 2024, 8-member Kathak dance troupe led by Dr.Samikhsa Sharma in January 2025, a 10-member Rajasthani folk dance troupe led by Smt Rajkumari Pawar in March 2025 and a 10-member Bhojpuri folk dance troupe led by Dr Shailesh Srivastava in May 2025. Most recently, a 10-member troupe, Brij Lok Manch, led by Shri Sanjay Kumar Sharma visited T&T from May 22-30, 2026 and staged performances all over the country.
    
    
28. Yogahas gained immense popularity in the country over the years. The International Yoga Day (IDY) is celebrated on a large scale with participation of hundreds of Yoga enthusiasts from cross-sections of the society. The 12th IDY was celebrated with great enthusiasm and wide participation at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on June 21, 2026. Other important events, including ITEC Day, Ayurveda Day, World Hindi Day, Diwali and Holi celebrations, etc, are organized regularly with robust participation. Celebration of annual Gita Mahotsav was organized at MGICC on November 16, 2025. 

Promotion of Hindi

29. The prominent presence of Hindi in the local media space has added to the interest for Hindi in T&T. There is a marked growth in the desire among local population cutting across gender, age and ethnicity to learn Hindi. The Mission organizes Hindi classes in across the country and collaborates with local Hindi promotion institutions. About 200 students attended Hindi and Sanskrit classes during the academic session 2025-26. Mission celebrates Hindi Pakhwara and the World Hindi Day with participation of a large number of Hindi enthusiasts every year. 
    
    
30. The 5th Vishwa Hindi Sammelan was organized in Port of Spain in April 1996. An International Regional Hindi Conference was organized in collaboration with Hindi Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (Hindi Nidhi), the National Council for Indian Culture and the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) at MGICC on September 6-8, 2024. It brought together eminent scholars, linguists and enthusiasts of Hindi language and Indian culture from India as well as the Caribbean region. 

Community

31. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD): There has been active participation of Indian diaspora in the PBDs. PM Basdeo Panday was conferred upon Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA) in 2005 in Mumbai. In 2008, National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) was awarded PBSA. PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar attended PBD 2012 in Jaipur as Chief Guest and was conferred with the PBSA. In addition, the following dignitaries have been conferred upon PBSA: Minister Dr. Lenny Saith (New Delhi, 2010), Minister Winston Dookeran (Bengaluru, 2017), Justice Frank Seepersad (Indore, 2023); and President Christine Carla Kangaloo (Bhubaneswar, 2025).  
    
    
32. Indian Community: The Non-Resident Indian Community in Trinidad and Tobago constitutes about 1,500-2,000 persons engaged in business, medicine, teaching and other professions. The Mission is in contact with the Indian Diaspora and has been actively promoting various schemes of the Government of India meant for them such. Mission provides prompt consular services to the community, organizes Open House for redressal of their grievances and extends emergency services from time-to-time.
    
    
33. The T&T Government has waived visa requirement for Indian nationals visiting the country for tourism and business purposes for a period of 90 days. The GoI has approved e-Tourist Visa for T&T citizens. 

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June 2026