PM Modi announces $14 million grant for community development projects in CARICOM

India on Wednesday announced $14 million grant for community development projects for Caribbean or CARICOM group of countries. 

Along with this, New Delhi also announced a $150 million line of credit for solar, renewable energy and projects related to climate- change.

 The announcement came during the first India-CARICOM summit that took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

CARICOM is a 15-member Caribbean nations grouping.

"Our countries face the challenge of climate change.. our focus is to increase ties with Caricom countries," PM said during the summit.

Leaders of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, vice-president of Suriname, and foreign ministers of Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Haiti and Guyana were present at the meet. 

The development comes a day after India announced $12 million grant to Pacific nations towards the implementation of development projects in areas of their choice.

India has been reaching out to the Caribbean lately. 

Earlier this month, India announced financial assistance of one million dollars to the Bahamas after it was hit by hurricane Dorian. 

Indian Prime Minister has also invited CARICOM countries to join International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. 

New Delhi will also set up a Regional Center for Excellence in Information Technology in Georgetown, Guyana and the Regional Vocational Training Center in Belize by upgrading the existing India-funded centres in these countries.