Embassy of India

India-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines bilateral relations

June 2026

Political

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), which became independent on 27 October 1979, enjoys cordial and friendly ties with India. Both countries interact actively in the U.N., Commonwealth and NAM and various other international fora. SVG supports candidature for Non-Permanent seat at UNSC and has also committed support for India’s bid for Permanent Membership of UNSC as part of the L69 group. India also supported SVG’s non-permanent membership of UNSC.

Bilateral Visits: Then SVG Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Ralph E. Gonsalves, met Indian Prime Minister on 24 September 2015 in New York on the sidelines of UNGA meeting, when our PM extended an invitation to SVG PM to visit India, which he accepted and had a successful official visit to India on 8-12 September 2019. During his stay in India, SVG PM met PM Modi and External Affairs Minister. Three MoUs were signed during the visit related to ISA framework, traditional systems of Medicine and Visa Waiver for Diplomatic & Official passport holders.

Former President of India Sh. Ram Nath Kovind had a highly successful state visit to SVG from 18-20 May 2022. The President was accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, Members of Parliament Shri Satish Kumar Gautam and Smt. Rama Devi and a high-level official delegation. An agreement for Exchange of Information and Assistance in Collection with respect to Taxes. The First Lady Smt. Savita Kovind visited a School of Special Needs separately and donated US$ 25,000/- to the Governor General’s Charitable Fund. 

Shri P.P. Chaudhary, India’s Minister of State for Law &Justice and Corporate Affairs visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 22-24, April 2018 under MEA’s outreach programme and held bilateral talks with SVG PM Gonsalves. On 1st June 2007, Mr. Vayalar Ravi, the then Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, attended the first ever celebrations of Indian Arrival Day organized by SVG Indian Heritage Foundation.

Prime Ministers met on the margins of UNGA on 25 September 2019 during PM Sh. Narendra Modi’s meeting with CARICOM leaders. They also met during the India-CARICOM leaders’ summit held in Georgetown, Guyana on 20 November 2024. EAM met with then SVG PM Hon. Gonsalves on 23 September 2022 on the sidelines of UNGA and co-hosted a high-level meeting of members of the L.69 group on “Reinvigorating Multilateralism and Achieving Comprehensive Reform of the UN Security Council”. On that day, EAM also met SVG Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Hon’ble Ms. Keisal Melissa Peters during the 4th India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and they again during the India-COFCOR Meeting held in Georgetown on 21 April 2023.

Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour of SVG Mr. Saboto Caesar visited India to attend the 9^th CII India- LAC Conclave from 03-05 August 2023. Mr. Curtis King, Minister of Education and National Reconciliation of SVG virtually addressed the Education Minister Session of Voice of South Summit on 13 January 2023.

Hon’ble Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment H.E. Hon. St. Clair Prince also participated in Health Ministers’ virtual Voice of Global South Summit 2.0 on 17 November 2023, hosted by Indian Health Minister.

Speaker of OECS and former cabinet Minister of SVG, Ms. Rene M. Baptiste visited India under ICCR’s Distinguished Visitors Programme in March 2024 and had interactions with Minister of State Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi and Director General, ICCR Mr. Kumar Tuhin.

Prime Minister of SVG, Honourable Ralph E. Gonsalves chaired the L69 meeting hosted by the External Affairs Minister India, on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly and had discussions with EAM on the margins of Joint Ministerial Meeting of L-69 and C-10 groupings of nations on 26 September 2024.

DEVELOPMENTAL PARTNERSHIP

India has handed over a cash donation of US$500,000/- towards assistance in recovery and rehabilitation following flash floods in December 2013. India had made a cash donation of US$100,000/- towards recovery and rehabilitation following Hurricane Tomas in October 2010 and April 2011 flash floods and landslides. Govt. of India provided as a token of solidarity lifesaving drugs and protective gear worth US$ 100000 to Govt. and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to assist in their fight against Covid 19 pandemic, which were handed over to Govt. of SVG on 3 September 2020. As a gesture of solidarity, GoI donated 40,000 doses of Made in India Covishield vaccine to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on 1 March 2021.

India provided an assistance of US$ 1.33 million to SVG in 2017 under UNIDO for modernization of Arrowroot Industry for climate change resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods for indigenous communities.

India extended relief assistance of around USD 1 million to SVG to provide aid in SVG’s rehabilitation efforts post Hurricane Beryl through delivery of Humanitarian Assistance containing relief supplies weighing around 60 tons.

EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar offered SVG USD 1 Million for a grant project in the SME sector during India-COFCOR meeting held in Georgetown on 21 April 2023. SVG under this grant commissioned a project for processing root and leafy vegetables, following the visit of NABCONS (implementation partner) delegation in July 2024. An MoU was then signed on 30.10.2024 and currently agro-processing machineries have been installed at the designated facilities in three sites in SVG by March 2026.

During the official visit to India in September 2019 of Dr. The Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, then Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), India announced a total grant of USD 200,000 for four Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in SVG – a first for the Latin and the Caribbean region. Subsequently, India and SVG signed an umbrella agreement on 13 November 2019 for implementing the projects. The following four projects were executed: (1) Rehabilitation and Transforming the Derelict Chatuebelair Agriculture Deport into a processing and training facility at a cost of USD 40,740/-; (2) Refurbishment of the Old Calder Community Center at USD 40,863/- (3) “Community Development Project for Glenside Village Marriaqua” at USD 39,796/- and (4) Port Elizabeth Bequia Market Repairs and Restoration at USD 30,000/-. Other five projects i) Rehabilitation of the Penniston Community Centre ii) Rehabilitation of the Dauphine Community Centre iii) Refurbishment of the Old Calder Community Centre (Ground floor) iv) Rehabilitation of the netball hard-court at Edinboro v) Construction of the Gym at the Central Leeward Secondary School are also under implementation under the new umbrella MoU signed in December 2024.

Economic: Trade ties with India are limited. Pharmaceuticals, machinery, plastics, Iron and Steel, printed books, fisheries, cotton and textiles are exported from India. Trade figures in USD million:

India regularly offers slots for SVG under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). Two Foreign Service officials Affairs participated in the PCFD/CARICOM special diplomatic training programme at Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi in 2017, one in PCFD, 2019 and three under special training programme for CariCom Diplomats in June, 2019.Two senior-level customs officials participated in the India-Caricom special training programme in customs and taxes held in India on 10-14 June, 2019 under ITEC.

Culture
With the Indian Community efforts, 1st June has been declared as Indian Arrival Day in St. Vincent whereas 7th October has been declared as Indian Heritage Day.

A cultural troupe from ICCR had visited the Island and performed at Indian Arrival Day of St. Vincent in 2011. The Queens Baton for Commonwealth Games also toured the Island in March, 2010. An ICCR-sponsored six member Rajasthani folk group led by Gazi Khan visited SVG on 22nd February, 2019 and held performance in Kingstown. The event was attended by PM Gonsalves and several other dignitaries. 5th edition of International Day of Yoga was celebrated at Kingstown Cruise Terminal, Kingstown, SVG on June 23, 2019 in association with SVG Indian Heritage Foundation. Minister of Transport, Works, Urban Development, and Local Government Hon’ble Julian Francis was the Guest of Honour. Mission sent a cultural troupe from Suriname to participate in SVG Indian arrival day on June 1, 2019.

Indian Community

The Persons of Indian Origin had come to SVG in the 19th century as indentured labourer between 1861 and 1885. Most of these PIOs have got completely assimilated in the mainstream local society and know very little about India, their forefathers and culture. Persons of Indian Origin and NRIs are working in various capacities such as Doctors, professionals, medical students. Between 1861 and 1880, 8 ships arrived from India bringing a total of 2474 Indians, living on 23 estates. It's worth mentioning that 1,141 individuals chose to return to India after completing their indenture contracts.

PIOs in the Island established the SVG Indian Heritage Foundation in October, 2006 with the aim to revive and promote cultural and social links with India. SVG Indian Heritage Foundation is a prominent Indian culture promoting organisation. 1^st June is celebrated as Indian Arrival Day in St. Vincent and 7^th October has been declared as Indian Heritage Day.

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Useful Resources

Website: https://www.indembassysuriname.gov.in/

Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInSuriname https://www.facebook.com/iccr.suriname

Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/indembsuriname/

Twitter: https://x.com/indembsur?lang=en

 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoj4U_ST86i5GvkpwL8mbHA/videos