India and Jamaica have strengthened their bilateral ties by signing key agreements for cooperation in digital public infrastructure and linking their online payment systems. The agreements were formalized during Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s visit to India, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This visit marks a significant step as Jamaica seeks to leverage India’s expertise in digital infrastructure for financial inclusion and transformation, integrating India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Jamaica’s Jam-Dex system.
Holness, the first Jamaican prime minister to visit India, is in New Delhi as part of a broader focus by India on enhancing its ties with the Caribbean under its Global South strategy. In addition to these digital agreements, both nations signed pacts to promote cooperation in sports and cultural exchanges. Holness expressed a strong interest in learning from India’s advancements in STEM education and digitalization, with a focus on integrating technology into Jamaica’s national security framework.
During the bilateral talks, Modi highlighted areas of potential cooperation, including defense, security, small industries, biofuel, health, and agriculture. Both leaders underscored the importance of working together to combat common challenges such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Jamaica is particularly interested in strengthening its defense systems using technology-driven security solutions provided by India.
The visit also focused on expanding trade relations, with Holness meeting industry leaders to attract investment in sectors such as information technology. The two leaders also acknowledged the vital role of the Indian diaspora in Jamaica, contributing to the country’s development over the past two centuries.
