Invited to be founding member IRIS and CDRI 

Durrant Pate/ Contributor

Jamaica has signalled its intention to join the Global Biofuels Alliance, pioneered by the Indian government.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, who is now on an official visit to India, made the announcement this morning at the end of bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. In its thrust towards energy diversification and to solidify cooperation in this area, Holness announced Jamaica’s intention to join the Global Biofuels Alliance.

On energy security, Holness emphasized that Jamaica shares India’s goal to diversify its energy mix by 2030, saying, “our shared interests, premised on our respective national targets to diversify our energy mix by 2030, provide a platform for deeper cooperation in this sphere.” 

Strengthen cooperation with India in various sectors 

He expressed Jamaica’s desire to strengthen cooperation with India in various sectors, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), education, digitalisation, security, and energy adding, “We recognise the remarkable strides made by your government in STEM education and digitalisation. We look forward to learning from India as a beacon of technological advancement…”

According to him, “India positions itself as the knowledge capital of the world… We recognise the remarkable strides made by your government in STEM education and digitalisation. We look forward to learning from India as a beacon of technological advancement.” 

Jamaica’s interest in Indian technology 

The Jamaican Prime Minister highlighted his country’s interest in India’s technology-driven security solutions to enhance national security and border security, arguing, “in light of my administration’s effort to enhance the safety and security of our citizens with a focus on strengthening the national security infrastructure and enhancing border security, we see India, a global leader in technology-driven security solutions, as a natural ally.” 

He says, “Jamaica is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and therefore regards any effort to deal with this existential threat as worthy of support and commendation. For this reason, Jamaica is proud to have been invited by Prime Minister Modi to be a founding member of the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States, the IRIS, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the CDRI.” 

India and Jamaica share strong historical and cultural linkages, reflected in their shared colonial past, values of democracy and freedom, and passion for cricket.