Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar speaking in Parliament on Friday listed out proposals, initiatives and donations discussed with the Indian government as she addressed a joint assembly of both Houses of Parliament.

One of the donations included 2,000 laptops.

“On behalf of the children of Trinidad and Tobago, thank you for your gift of 2,000 laptops to the children,” she said to Modi.

Modi was the featured speaker for Friday’s sitting of Parliament addressing the Senate and the House of Representatives at the red House in Port of Spain.

Persad-Bissessar again thanked Modi for his contributions to Trinidad and Tobago over the years.

She said, “Today, India and Trinidad and Tobago stand uniquely poised, India as the world’s most populous nation and in the top four in terms of economy. On this side of the world, Trinidad and Tobago stands as the Eastern Caribbean’s largest economy and we see it as gateway to Caricom and  a gateway to Latin America.”

Both democracies were diverse, committed to inclusion, education and progress Persad-Bissessar said.

Bilateral trade between Trinidad and Tobago and India reached a record in the last fiscal year with TT$1.2 billion or US $368.96 million, she disclosed.

Trinidad and Tobago exports to India energy products including ammonia, liquified natural gas and methanol while pharmaceuticals, textiles and industrial goods were imported.

Persad-Bissessar said, “As we look ahead from today, we aim to expand our exports Honourable Prime Minister, to tap into India’s 1.4 billion population and that is 1.4 billion consumers. We are also pursuing a partial scope trade agreement, the first it would be from a Caricom country and we are laying the foundation for a new bilateral investment treaty.”

Referring to India as a pharmacy she said, “We want to partner with Indian pharmaceutical leaders to establish local drug manufacturing facilities, biotech parks, telly medicine networks, so enhance health resilience and create high quality jobs in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Persad-Bissessar said India has also pledged support for, amongst other initiatives a Jaipur foot camp- providing prosthetic limbs, dialysis units and sea ambulances which most vital for the sea bridge and energy remains central to both economies.

Discussions were being held with Indian companies to participate in energy related projects  in Trinidad and Tobago and government was proud to join India led initiatives such as the Global Biofuel Alliance, she said.

Persad-Bissessar also thanked Modi for gifting to Trinidad a solar rooftop system “a symbol of our shared commitment to sustainable energy.”

She said Trinidad and Tobago was honoured to adopt India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system and collaborate on India Stack.

Persad-Bissessar said, “Together it is our aim to position Trinidad and Tobago as a digital hub for the Americas and to empower a new generation of tech savy citizens here in our land.”

India also continued to support the security efforts through training under the I Tech Security Systems programme and through assistance in establishing  in Trinidad and Tobago, a regional forensic science centre, she announced.

“We also welcome India’s offer of the SASHNET disaster alert system to strengthen our national emergency response,” Persad-Bissessar.

She told Modi, “Your presence today powerfully reflects the enduring friendship between Trinidad and Tobago and India built on shared heritage, cultural bonds and a mutual commitment to democracy.

Modi is the first Indian prime minister to speak to members of parliament from the Red House.

He sat in the Speaker of the House of Representatives chair.

House Speaker Jagdeo Singh told Modi the chair was gifted to the Parliament by India’s government in 1968.

Singh said, “The seemingly simple gift of this chair honours the deep-rooted ties between our two nations and these exchanges seek to reaffirm our shared commitment to institutional dialogue and the enduring value of interparliamentary corporation.”

Senate President Wade Mark also gave brief remarks.

Following the addresses, Modi greeted parliamentarians including Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, opposition senators and again members of government.

His historic two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago ended with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries and the planting of a tree.