Georgetown, Guyana (January 26, 2020): President David Granger, this evening, attended the 70th Republic Anniversary observance of the Republic of India, held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal.
The Head of State extended congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of India on the occasion of the country’s anniversary and noted that Republic Day in India is a celebration of India’s transition from a British dominion to a Republic on 26th January 1950.
The President said Guyana and India both emerged from British domination in the post-Second World War period. Thousands of Indian indentured immigrants settled in Guyana in the pre-First World War period.
“Guyana and India are united by bonds of blood and history. Guyana and India have strengthened cultural and economic ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 26th May 1966. Our long-standing friendship has yielded mutual benefit for both nations,” President Granger said as he spoke of the collaborations between the two countries.
Guyana and India are collaborating as advocates for combating the adverse effects of climate change, he said.
“India has been a leader in its commitment to working towards mitigating the impact of climate change at the international level. India’s proactive approach is evident in its role in the establishment of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), focused on the mobilisation of resources to produce cleaner and cost-effective renewable energy,” said President Granger, who attended the founding conference of the ISA in March 2018 in New Delhi.
The Head of State said Guyana applauds India’s leadership in promoting solar energy and technology to bring prosperity, energy security and sustainable development to the peoples of solar-rich countries – the solar belt – of tropical states particularly in Africa, the Americas and Asia.
“Guyana is moving towards the establishment of a ‘Green’ State which will place more emphasis on the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity, the promotion of the use of renewable energy, including through the generation of solar energy and the adoption of practical measures to ensure climate adaptation,” President Granger said.
Guyana’s partnership with and participation in the ISA will contribute to the advancement of the country’s Green State Development Strategy.
“We have forged a strong alliance,” President Granger said, while noting that Guyana and India concluded the signing of two memoranda of understanding in 2018 to encourage and promote cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy for mutual benefit and to enhance cultural cooperation.
The President said India’s assistance in providing scholarships and training opportunities under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiative moves Guyana closer to achieving its objective of becoming an ‘Education Nation’.
Guyana and India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed an agreement in May 2017 paving the way for the establishment and operation of a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology.
President Granger commissioned the Centre on the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus in June 2019. The Centre moves Guyana closer to achieving its objective of becoming a Digital State.
The Head of State noted that India has also pledged its support to modernising Primary Health Care facilities.
“Our two Governments are working to finalize the first phase of the East Bank – East Coast Road Linkage Project as we embark on our Decade of Development,” he said.
President Granger commissioned the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra, in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region on 5th May 2019. The monument commemorates the arrival of the first Indian immigrants on 5th May 1838.
India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Kotehal Jayadevappa Srinivasa said Guyana and India share friendly and cordial relations and noted that the two countries have collaborated in various fields.
“India is very happy to strengthen the level of cooperation with Guyana. We all need to work together to think of ways and means to further collaboration between the two countries,” the Indian High Commissioner said.
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