India on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with Pacific Island countries, with Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita highlighting cooperation in areas including climate resilience, healthcare, education, digital technology and disaster management.
Addressing the Dialogue Partner Session of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Koror, Palau, Margherita said India attaches the highest importance to its partnership with the “Blue Pacific Continent”.
He said India’s engagement with the Pacific has deepened through its Act East Policy, bilateral ties, the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and its engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
“We see the Pacific not as a distant region, but as an integral part of our shared Indo-Pacific,” Margherita said, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of Pacific Island countries as “large ocean states”.
He said India’s approach to the Indo-Pacific was based on a free, open, peaceful and prosperous region, with respect for international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and overflight, lawful commerce and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
India announced the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative in 2019 as part of efforts to promote cooperation for an open and free maritime domain while ensuring the health of the oceans, he said.
Focus on development and climate resilience
Highlighting India’s development partnership with Pacific nations, Margherita referred to initiatives announced by Prime Minister Modi at the third FIPIC Summit in Papua New Guinea in 2023.
These initiatives cover healthcare, education, digital capacity building, water and renewable energy. India is implementing them through bilateral development cooperation as well as demand-driven projects supported by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, he said.
Climate change and rising sea levels remain major concerns for Pacific Island countries, Margherita said, adding that India was contributing to global efforts through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA).
He invited Pacific Island countries to join these initiatives and work towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
India is also strengthening its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) engagement across the Indo-Pacific through early warning systems, disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure and timely humanitarian assistance, he said.
AI and opportunities for Pacific nations
Margherita also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to address development challenges in Pacific Island countries.
Referring to the AI Impact Summit hosted by India in February, he said the event placed Global South priorities at the centre of discussions on AI and focused on democratising access to AI resources.
AI could help Pacific nations in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, education, climate resilience and public services, he said.
The minister also stressed the importance of ensuring that the priorities of Pacific Island countries are reflected in global decision-making.
He said India’s three Voice of Global South Summits, which saw active participation from PIF members, had provided a platform for Pacific perspectives and priorities.
Quick Impact Projects across Pacific
Margherita said India has been implementing demand-driven Quick Impact Projects across all 14 Pacific Island countries.
At the PIF Summit in Tonga in 2024, he had announced India’s support for one Quick Impact Project in each Pacific Island country. He said work on these projects had progressed well and was showing results.
“Our approach is simple: listen to our Pacific partner countries and the Pacific Islands Forum, respond to their priorities, and deliver on our commitments,” Margherita said.
He added that India would continue working with its Pacific partners to build a stronger, more resilient and prosperous Blue Pacific Continent.
The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting is being held in Koror, Palau, bringing together leaders and representatives of Pacific Island countries and dialogue partners.
