This article covers India's development partnership with The Bahamas, including disaster relief, assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Abaco Hurricane Shelter Project, the proposals India has made to CARICOM countries, training programmes, and cooperation on shared global concerns and the environment. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of June 2026.
Disaster relief
According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India made a contribution of medicines worth US$ 50,000/- as relief after the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
India donated US$ 1 million as a disaster relief fund after Hurricane Dorian (2019), which the brief describes as devastating two major islands of The Bahamas.
The Abaco Hurricane Shelter Project
On 23 October 2025, the Government of The Bahamas, through its Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRMA), the Government of India, through the High Commission of India in Jamaica, and UNDP, through its Caribbean Representative office, handed over the Abaco Hurricane Shelter Project to the Abaco Island authorities.
The project falls under the US$ 1 million grant announced by Prime Minister Modi during the 1st India-CARICOM Summit in 2019 in New York. It was implemented by UNDP, based in Kingston, in collaboration with the DRMA.
Covid-19 assistance
During the Covid-19 crisis, India donated more than US$ 50,000 worth of medicines and medical equipment to The Bahamas to combat the pandemic. India also gifted 20,000 doses of Made in India COVID-19 vaccine to The Bahamas on 10 March 2021.
Proposals for CARICOM countries
The brief states that The Bahamas, as a member of CARICOM, is a beneficiary of the announcements India made during the two India-CARICOM Summits of 2019 and 2024. These include proposals for:
- solarisation of government buildings
- dialysis units
- sea ambulances
- mobile medical units
- a UPI Digital Payment system
- ITEC training
Earlier, at the Fourth India-CARICOM Ministerial Meeting in April 2023, the proposals included USD 1 mn of assistance for SME setup and USD 1 mn for Quick Infrastructure Projects (QIPs) for CARICOM countries, including The Bahamas.
The brief does not say which of these proposals have been taken up in The Bahamas.
Training and capacity building
India offers 5 ITEC slots to The Bahamas. The brief notes that in the past years, after the COVID-19 pandemic, these slots have not been utilised. The brief does not give the number of Bahamian participants in ITEC courses before the pandemic.
There has been occasional participation by Bahamian Foreign Service Officers in the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats at the Foreign Service Institute, one each in March 2011, 2016, 2017 (CARICOM) and 2018.
Two journalists from The Bahamas visited India under the MEA's familiarisation programme in April 2023. Two officers from The Bahamas attended the 1st Special Course for CSACI countries at SSIFS, MEA, from 29 October to 07 November 2025.
Shared global concerns, environment and energy
The brief states that India and The Bahamas are both members of the Global South and work closely in the United Nations on issues of mutual concern such as climate change, food security, health security and disaster preparedness.
The Bahamas has taken part in all three Voice of Global South Summits. Hon'ble Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, attended VOGSS 1.0 on 13 January 2023 and VOGSS 3.0 on 17 August 2024. Hon'ble Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary, attended VOGSS 2.0 on 17 November 2023.
The brief states that the environmental dimension of the partnership was showcased during the visit of Minister of State Shri Pabitra Margherita in March 2025. He visited the Bahamas National Trust and planted a Yellow Elder tree, the national tree, in line with India's "Ek ped Maa ke Naam" global climate campaign.
The Bahamas announced its intent to join the International Solar Alliance during the visit of the Minister of State for External Affairs in March 2025. The brief does not report whether it has since joined.