India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, highlighted Guyana’s importance to India’s energy security during his address to the Twelfth Parliament of Guyana on Thursday.
Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s support for Guyana, particularly in areas like development, renewable energy, and capacity building. He said, “Friends, our development-related partnership is now entering a new era. Demand for energy is growing rapidly in India, and India is also diversifying its energy sources. In this regard, we view Guyana as an important energy source.”
He noted that the Indian government is making continuous efforts to ensure that Indian businesses invest more in Guyana. He stressed that this is part of India’s vision of Guyana as a vital partner and encouraged further investment by Indian businesses.
Modi’s address on energy security coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two nations on hydrocarbon sector cooperation. The MOU encompasses areas such as crude sourcing, natural gas collaboration, infrastructure development, capacity building, and expertise sharing across the hydrocarbon value chain.
Moreover, the PM told the Parliament that Guyana is positioned as a gateway to Latin America and its growing collaboration with India, showcased by the recent India-Caricom Summit, reflects the deepening ties between the two nations. Modi said, “For us, Guyana is a gateway to the vast Latin American continent. You can become a bridge of opportunity and possibilities between India and this vast continent, and together we can further improve the India-Caricom partnership.”
Further, the Prime Minister reflected on the historical and cultural ties between Guyana and India, as highlighted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. He noted that the countries shared democratic beliefs and human-centric values have paved the way for inclusive progress. “These values have allowed both countries to progress along an inclusive path,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister reiterated India’s philosophy of “Humanity First, Democracy First,” which drives its global engagement and underscored India’s commitment to amplifying the voice of the Global South, a principle demonstrated during its G20 presidency. “The mantra democracy first teaches us that we must take everyone along and in doing so become a partner in everyone’s development, the humanity first motto guides our decisions…Human centric approach teaches us that every country is equally important and that the citizens of each country are equally important…” he said.
