The Indian defence industry is making forays in the Caribbean with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) planning to soon acquire two new aircraft from New Delhi with a $23.27 million loan from Export-Import Bank of India.
Guyana Signs LoC With India To Purchase Dornier Aircraft
The Indian defence industry is making forays in the Caribbean with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) planning to soon acquire two new aircraft from New Delhi with a $23.27 million loan from Export-Import Bank of India. An agreement in this regard was signed last Friday between Guyanese Finance Minister and Deputy GM of EXIM Bank. Guyana, which has a substantial Indian diaspora, plans to purchase two HAL (Dornier) 228 planes from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
This agreement represents the latest instalment of the Government’s ongoing effort to ramp up the capabilities of the GDF and has its genesis in President Ali’s visit to India’s state-owned aerospace and defence company – Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, in January 2023.
Guyana-India Bilateral Relations
Guyana and India established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1966, and continue to have a robust developmental cooperation programme aimed towards the mutual benefit of both countries. The Commission of India was established in Georgetown in May 1965. The Commission was made into a full-fledged High Commission of India in 1968. The Indian Cultural Centre (now Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre) was set up in 1972.
India’s contribution
•India executed some high-visibility projects under Line of Credit in Guyana, i.e. cricket stadium, traffic lights in Georgetown and supply of 14 irrigation drainage pumps.
•India has also set up a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) in Guyana in April 2019 under its Grant assistance programme.
•An LoC of US$50 million was extended in March 2016 for construction of East Bank-East Coast Road linkage project and is under execution.
•India Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme: India has offered 50 slots during 2021-22 for Guyanese scholars to be trained in India under the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme). So far, more than 600 Guyanese nationals have benefitted from ITEC Programme.
