The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have considerably expanded in recent years with both nations building strategic and commercial ties. Both nations formally established diplomatic relations in 1962. Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians form the largest ethnic group in the country at 37.6% of the total population.

Background

Both nations were colonised by the

British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and other Dependent territory, territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It bega ...

; India supported independence of Trinidad and Tobago from colonial rule and established its diplomatic mission in 1962 - the year that Trinidad and Tobago officially gained independence from British rule. Trinidad and Tobago's ethnic group consists of the Indigenous Taino and Irawak peoples, as well as citizens of Indian and African descent. The nations possess diverse natural and economic resources and are the largest economies in their respective regions. Both are members of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an International organization, international association of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, 56 member states, the vast majo ...

, G-77 and the

Non-Aligned Movement The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of 121 countries that Non-belligerent, are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. It was founded with the view to advancing interests of developing countries in the context of Cold W ...

Migration

The relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago started on 30 May 1845, when the ''

Fatel Razack ''Fatel Razack'' (''Fath Al Razack'', ''Victory of God (Allah) the Provider'', ) was the first ship to bring indentured labourers from India to Trinidad. The ship was built in Aprenade for a trader named Ibrahim Bin Yussef, an Indian Muslim merch ...

'' brought 225 indentured labourers to Trinidad from India. The majority of Indians consisted of Arawakian and Taino natives. However, 37% of Trinidad and Tobago's population are with mixed Indian and African descent. Hence the term, "dougla". Indian descent. That number is slightly higher when including multiracial individuals, mostly

Dougla people Dougla people (plural ''Dougla’s'') is the term used to describe Caribbean people who are of mixed Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Caribbean. Definition The word ''Dougla'' originated from dogala (), which is a Caribbean Hindustani word that literall ...

Recent relations

In 2010, Indian nationals can now travel to Trinidad and Tobago without a visa and can visit up to 90 days. There has also been initiatives by the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

to provide Trinidadians and Tobagonians of Indian descent with

Overseas Citizenship of India Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is a form of permanent residency available to people of Indian origin which allows them to live and work in India indefinitely. It allows the cardholders a lifetime entry to the country along with benefits suc ...

Bilateral agreements

Indian Business companies in Trinidad and Tobago

; *

Bank of Baroda Bank of Baroda (BOB or BoB) is an Public sector banks in India, Indian government Public sector bank headquartered in Vadodara, Gujarat. It is the third largest Public sector banks in India, public sector bank in India after State Bank of India ...

New India Assurance The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. (''NIACL'') is an Indian Public Sector Undertakings in India, public sector insurance company owned by the Government of India and administered by the Ministry of Finance (India), Ministry of Finance. Headquart ...

Company ; *

ArcelorMittal ArcelorMittal S.A. is a Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturing corporation, headquartered in Luxembourg City. It is ranked second on the list of steel producers behind Baowu, and had an annual crude steel production of 58 millio ...

* Intercommercial Bank Limited

Diplomacy

;Of India *

Port of Spain Port of Spain ( ; Trinidadian and Tobagonian English, Trinidadian English: ''Port ah Spain'' ) is the capital and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago. With a municipal population of 49,867 (2017), an urban population of 81,142 and a transient dail ...

( High Commission) ;Of Trinidad and Tobago *

New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...

(High Commission)

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:India-Trinidad and Tobago relations

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger, more populous island of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is the southernmost island in ...

Bilateral relations of Trinidad and Tobago