External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Meets Antigua and Barbuda PM to Discuss Trade and Renewable Energy

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held bilateral discussions with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne to explore avenues for deepening economic cooperation between the two nations.

Jaishankar arrived in the Caribbean nation on Tuesday to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026. During the meeting, he conveyed the warm wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Prime Minister Browne and congratulated him on successfully hosting the international summit.

In a public statement shared via social media, Jaishankar noted that the discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in key economic sectors. The leaders specifically addressed opportunities for growth in trade and investment, renewable energy, and the food processing sector. Jaishankar acknowledged the guidance provided by the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda in advancing these bilateral ties.

As part of his diplomatic engagements during the visit, the External Affairs Minister also held talks with Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister, Paul Chet Greene. The two ministers agreed to intensify cooperation across multiple operational areas, including healthcare, education, training, and capacity building.

Discussions with Foreign Minister Greene also placed a specific focus on supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to foster enterprise-level engagement between the two countries. Both sides further exchanged perspectives on the outcomes of the recently concluded CHOGM 2026 summit.

"Bilateral diplomatic engagements focused on trade, renewable energy, and small and medium enterprises create foundational opportunities for cross-border business expansion. As governments build frameworks to support sectors like food processing, healthcare, and education, enterprises must monitor these developments closely to identify emerging international markets and partnership channels." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes