President Dr Irfaan Ali and India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, have signed three bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation between Guyana and India, including initiatives to support infrastructure development, small businesses and digital payments.

The agreements were signed yesterday on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, during a meeting which also saw a comprehensive review of Guyana-India relations and discussions on further areas of cooperation.

According to the Office of the President, the agreements include a Memorandum of Understanding on Indian Grant Assistance for the Implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs); a Memorandum of Agreement on the Supply and Installation of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Manufacturing Projects; and an Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Digital Public Infrastructure and the Functioning of a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-like system in Guyana.

The agreements are expected to strengthen collaboration in areas of mutual interest and support Guyana’s development priorities.

Additionally, India has extended a new US$500 million Line of Credit to Guyana to support development priorities and infrastructure projects.