India and Jamaica have agreed to strengthen their bilateral relationship with a focus on boosting trade and enhancing the mobility of skilled professionals. The announcement was made by S. Jaishankar during his visit to Kingston, where he held detailed discussions with his Jamaican counterpart Kamina J. Smith.

Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting on Monday, Jaishankar said that the talks covered a wide range of areas and reviewed the full scope of relations between the two countries. Both sides explored new opportunities to deepen cooperation and expand their partnership across sectors.

"We signed several important agreements and discussed effective implementations of MoUs which have been recently concluded in the fields of digital transformation, cultural exchange, sports and digital payments to ensure tangible outcomes on the ground," he said.

Jaishankar highlighted Jamaica’s growing importance as a logistics hub and a gateway to the Caribbean region for trade and investment. He noted that India sees strong potential in expanding economic ties with the country and using it as a base for wider regional engagement.

"We agreed to further strengthen trade, business and investment linkages, explore cooperation for recruitment and mobility of skilled professionals, including nurses, healthcare workers and teachers," he said.

The discussions also included plans to expand cooperation in key areas such as defence and security, healthcare, digitisation, agriculture, education and infrastructure. These sectors were identified as important pillars for future collaboration between the two nations.

Jaishankar placed special emphasis on development cooperation, describing it as a key aspect of India-Jamaica relations. He referred to the successful completion of the Improving Rural Livelihoods Project in Kitson Town in March 2026. The project was implemented with Indian assistance of USD 1 million under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, benefitting over 200 individuals directly and with a wider impact on thousands of people in the region.

India is also exploring new initiatives in Jamaica, including the possible establishment of an artisan empowerment hub. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for Jamaica’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. As part of humanitarian assistance, India has already supplied relief materials and deployed a medical team. It is also in the process of providing 30 dialysis units. In addition, India is sending 40 fishing boats and 200 GPS units to support recovery and livelihood restoration.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working closely in multilateral forums. They discussed key global issues such as reformed multilateralism, climate justice and the priorities of the Global South. India also expressed appreciation for Jamaica’s support for its candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term.

The two sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms. They called for the early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, underlining the need for a coordinated global response to the threat.

Jaishankar also pointed to the growing people-to-people connections between the two countries. He noted the popularity of practices like yoga and Ayurveda in Jamaica. He also acknowledged the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora to Jamaica’s development.

To mark cultural ties, Jaishankar announced a contribution of two million Jamaican dollars towards the celebrations of 181 years of the arrival of Indians in Jamaica. The occasion is observed as India Heritage Day, which is celebrated on May 10 each year.

According to official data from the High Commission of India in Kingston, Jamaica is home to an Indian diaspora of around 70,000 people. Their ancestors mostly came from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as indentured labourers between 1845 and 1917, while some also migrated from South India. Today, the community makes up about 3 per cent of Jamaica’s population and continues to maintain strong cultural links with India. The diaspora plays an important role in connecting the two countries through shared traditions in music, dance and heritage.

Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday, marking the beginning of his nine-day visit to the Caribbean. The tour includes Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, and aims to strengthen India’s strategic and cultural engagement with the region.

Later during his visit, Jaishankar met with industry and business leaders in Jamaica. He stressed the importance of expanding economic cooperation, especially at a time when countries are looking to diversify their global partnerships.

"Emphasised that as we all diversify and seek reliable partners, the imperative to deepen India-Jamaica business ties is that much stronger," he said in a social media post, adding that the potential for both bilateral and regional economic cooperation should be "explored more vigorously".

Jaishankar also expressed appreciation for Industry Minister Aubyn Hill for organising the interaction with business leaders, which he described as an important step in strengthening commercial ties.

The visit reflects India’s continued efforts to build stronger relationships with Caribbean nations. It also highlights a shared commitment between India and Jamaica to expand cooperation across economic, cultural and strategic areas.