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{{Infobox bilateral relations|The Bahamas–India|Bahamas|India}}
'''Bahamas–India relations''' refer to [[bilateral relations]] between [[The Bahamas]] and [[India]]. The Bahamas maintains an Honorary Consulate in [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hony. Consulates in India|url=http://meaprotocol.nic.in/?a4Bahamas?New/Delhi|website=Protocol Division, Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=15 April 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bahamas - India Relations To Develop As Foreign Affairs Welcomes India's Honorary Consul|url=https://www.bahamaslocal.com/newsitem/56223/Bahamas__India_Relations_To_Develop_As_Foreign_Affairs_Welcomes_Indias_Honorary_Consul.html|website=Bahamas Local News|access-date=15 April 2017|language=en}}</ref> The High Commission of India in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] concurrently accredited to The Bahamas.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 October 2016 |title=M. Sevala Naik concurrently accredited as the High Commissioner of India to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas |url=http://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/27453/M_Sevala_Naik_concurrently_accredited_as_the_High_Commissioner_of_India_to_the_Commonwealth_of_The_Bahamas |access-date=15 April 2017 |website=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |language=en |location=New Delhi}}</ref> India does not have a resident diplomatic mission in The Bahamas.

== History ==
The Bahamas and India have always supported each other at various international and multilateral fora such as the [[United Nations]]. The Bahamas supported Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism proposed by India at the UN, and also supported India's candidature for a Non-Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council for the year 2011–12. The country also supports India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.<ref name="MEA2015" /><ref name="The Wire" /> The two countries have often voted for each other's candidates at organizations such as the [[UN Security Council]], the [[UN Human Rights Council]], the UNHRC Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Commonwealth, the International Law Commission, and the International Maritime Organisation. The Bahamas was an early supporter of the candidature of Indian diplomat [[Kamalesh Sharma]] for [[Commonwealth Secretary-General]]. Bahamian Foreign Minister Frederick Mitchell stated that Sharma gave a lot of support to small island developing states like The Bahamas.<ref name="The Wire" />

Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]] visited [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]] in October 1985 to attend the [[CHOGM Summit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/16/Indian-Prime-Minister-Rajiv-Gandhi-and-other-leaders-of/9444498283200/|title=Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and other leaders of...|last=Brossy|first=Julie|date=16 October 1985|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Ahluwalia|first1=Meenakshi|title=Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|date=1 January 1991|publisher=Mittal Publications|location=India|isbn=9788170993155|page=168|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SAZVQqntxY0C|access-date=15 April 2017|language=en}}</ref> The Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs visited The Bahamas in September 2005 to hold Foreign Office Consultations. Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service Frederick Mitchell, accompanied by a business delegation, visited India in January 2006. During the visit, an omnibus "Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation" between the two Governments, and an "Agreement on the Establishment of Joint Business Council between FICCI and The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce" were signed. Mitchell visited the country again in March 2006, accompanying the wife of then Prime Minister Perry Christie on her private visit to India. Minister of State (PMO) Prithviraj Chauhan visited The Bahamas in May 2006 to participate in the Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Conference.<ref name="MEA2015">{{cite web |date=January 2015 |title=India - The Bahamas Relations |url=http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bahamas_Jan2015.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327011031/http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bahamas_Jan2015.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2015 |access-date=15 April 2017 |website=Ministry of External Affairs}}</ref>

The High Commission of India in Kingston, [[Jamaica]] was concurrently accredited to The Bahamas in August 2004. The Bahamas appointed an Honorary Consul in New Delhi in October 2006. Prime Ministers Hubert A. Ingraham and Manmohan Singh held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the CHOGM Summit in Kampala in November 2007. During the meeting, Ingraham requested India's cooperation in solar energy, technical and vocational education, specialists, teachers, and IT assistance.<ref name="MEA2015"/>

Foreign Minister Mitchell visited India a decade later in April 2016. During the visit, he sought India's support for several Bahamian candidates in elections to multilateral organizations, and also pledged his country's support for Indian candidates in elections to multilateral organizations.<ref name="The Wire"/>

== Trade ==
The Bahamas was India's largest trade partner in the Caribbean, and fourth largest trade partner in the Latin America and the Caribbean region in 2011–12. ''[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]'' senior correspondent for Latin America, Huma Siddiqui, wrote that the high value of bilateral trade is most likely the result of financial transactions passing through The Bahamas offshore banking system rather than merchandise trade.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Huma |date=18 August 2014 |title=India, LAC countries can together become a formidable global economic force |url=http://www.mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?23937/India+LAC+countries+can+together+become+a+formidable+global+economic+force |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511223505/http://www.mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?23937/India+LAC+countries+can+together+become+a+formidable+global+economic+force |archive-date=11 May 2017 |access-date=15 April 2017 |website=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |language=en}}</ref> Bilateral trade between The Bahamas and India totaled US$2,247.01 million in 2011–12. Indian exports to The Bahamas stood at $2,243.52 million and imports were $3.49 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=FOCUS LAC PROGRAMME|url=http://commerce.nic.in/trade/international_tpp_lac.pdf|website=Department of Commerce|access-date=15 April 2017|page=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403162233/http://commerce.nic.in/trade/international_tpp_lac.pdf|archive-date=3 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> India's major exports to The Bahamas are IT products/services, pharmaceuticals, manufactured goods and auto parts.<ref name="MEA2015" />

As a result of a small Indian community in The Bahamas and lack of direct connectivity with India, the local business community in the country often imports goods of Indian origin from the United States and the United Kingdom due to closer proximity and more established and economical shipping arrangements.<ref name="MEA2015" />

The two countries signed a [[Bilateralism|Bilateral]] Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) on 11 February 2011.<ref name="MEA2015" /><ref>{{cite web|title=AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA FOR THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES|url=https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/210bc31c-c768-4827-a2b0-1d209d75ba10/India+Bahamas+TIEA+11+February+2011.pdf?MOD=AJPERES|website=Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref> The agreement enables the two countries to exchange information relating to civil and criminal investigations.<ref name="The Wire">{{cite web |last1=Mitra |first1=Devirupa |date=28 April 2016 |title=India Never Sought Information on Tax-Related Matters, Says Bahamian Foreign Minister |url=https://thewire.in/32159/ndia-never-sought-information-on-tax-related-matters-says-bahamian-foreign-minister/ |access-date=15 April 2017 |website=The Wire}}</ref>

Campbell Shipping is a shipping company registered in The Bahamas, and with its headquarters in Mumbai.<ref name="The Wire" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Contact|url=http://csship.com/contact/|website=Campbell Shipping|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref> The State Bank of India and the Bank of Baroda maintain branches in Nassau.<ref name="MEA2015" />

Documents released in the [[Panama Papers]] in September 2016, included the names of 475 Indian people, trusts and companies registered in The Bahamas. The names included Indian corporate personalities from industries such as mines and metals, electronics, real estate, media and entertainment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/after-panama-papers-comes-bahamas-leak-exposes-475-india-linked-names-with-offshore-accounts-3015284.html|title=After Panama Papers comes Bahamas: Leak exposes 475 India-linked names with offshore accounts|date=2016-09-22|work=Firstpost|access-date=2017-04-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Cultural relations ==
As of January 2015, around 300 Indians reside in The Bahamas. The community is mostly made up of professionals, and are well integrated in Bahamian society.<ref name="MEA2015" />

Around 1,455 Indian tourists visited The Bahamas in 2015.<ref name="The Wire" />

== Foreign aid ==
India has provided assistance to The Bahamas in IT and diplomatic training.<ref name="The Wire" /> India donated $50,000 worth of medicines to The Bahamas in the aftermath of damage caused by [[Hurricane Ivan]] in September 2004.<ref name="MEA2015" />

Citizens of The Bahamas are eligible for scholarships under the [[Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Scholarships |url=http://mofa.gov.bs/services/technical-assistance-education/scholarships/ |access-date=15 April 2017 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, The Bahamas}}</ref> Bahamian diplomats have attended the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) organised by the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs.<ref name="MEA2015" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Foreign relations of the Bahamas}}
{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Caribbean|India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahamas-India relations}}
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of the Bahamas|India]]

The Bahamas–India relations - Revision history

Candy332540216: starting initial info w/ infobox.