India has proposed developing customised capacity-building programmes for Pacific Island Countries (PICs) based on their specific priorities, with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar saying the initiative would enable professionals from the region to undergo focused training in India.
Addressing the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York on Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar said India was ready to design specialised training modules in areas identified by Pacific Island countries as priorities. He suggested that professionals from the region could come to India for a specified period for cohesive, region-focused training.
The FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and was chaired by EAM Jaishankar. It was the second Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under the FIPIC framework.
The meeting brought together senior representatives from Pacific Island Countries, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Samoa; Foreign Ministers of Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu; the Finance Minister of Tonga; the Secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney General of the Federated States of Micronesia; the Health Minister of Vanuatu; the Deputy Foreign Minister of Nauru; and the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
India reviews progress since 2023 FIPIC Summit
EAM Jaishankar said the meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of progress since the 3rd FIPIC Summit held in 2023, particularly through two frameworks—the FIPIC framework and the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
He said projects undertaken through these mechanisms have focused on strengthening livelihoods, building capacity and promoting sustainable development. India, he added, fully respects and supports the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
The ministers reviewed the outcomes of the FIPIC Summits and welcomed progress in India-PIC cooperation, including implementation of the 12-Point Action Plan announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023.
Super-specialty hospital in Fiji among key projects
EAM Jaishankar highlighted the progress being made on the 100-bed super-specialty hospital in Fiji, saying India was confident that the facility would help address healthcare needs across the Pacific Island countries.
India has also supplied hemodialysis machines to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, with deliveries to four other member states in progress.
On sea ambulances, EAM Jaishankar said India had received requests from 12 member states for 20 units. The procurement process is underway in India, with delivery expected to be completed by March 2027.
An artificial limb fitment camp is also being planned in Fiji in October, where the needs of around 650 eligible patients are expected to be addressed.
India expands healthcare and digital cooperation
EAM Jaishankar said the Indian Pharmacopoeia has been recognised by Fiji, Nauru and Solomon Islands. India is also keen to share its experience with affordable and accessible pharmacies, while the first tranche of medicines has already been supplied to Nauru.
On digital capacity building, India has committed to establishing centres of excellence in IT along with training for local trainers. Such initiatives have been completed in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Niue, Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands.
India has also completed the solarisation of 2,800 households across 14 Pacific Island Countries, along with training for 70 women solar engineers.
Two projects under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund are currently underway—one focused on health in the Federated States of Micronesia and another on water infrastructure in Tuvalu.
Space, ocean research initiatives to continue
EAM Jaishankar also highlighted India’s commitment to establish a Space Technology Application Centre in Papua New Guinea and a Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research Institute at the University of the South Pacific.
While acknowledging that progress on the two initiatives has been slower than anticipated, he reiterated that both projects remain India’s commitments.
India seeks quick-impact project proposals
India has invited Pacific Island Countries to submit proposals for quick-impact projects that can directly benefit local communities using local resources and Indian funding support where required.
EAM Jaishankar said India had so far received proposals from seven member states and encouraged the remaining countries to submit their proposals as well.
He said such projects could support areas ranging from improving the processing of local products to strengthening educational institutions, with the objective of creating a direct impact at the community level.
20 projects completed under India-UN Development Partnership Fund
Under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, India has so far undertaken 20 projects, with three projects currently ongoing. Most of these initiatives focus on climate change, renewable energy and sustainable development.
EAM Jaishankar also highlighted the shared interest of India and the Pacific Island Countries in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), particularly as climate-related events become more severe and frequent.
India welcomes strategic partner status in Pacific Islands Forum
The EAM welcomed Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa at the meeting and expressed satisfaction over India’s inclusion in the strategic partners stream of the Pacific Islands Forum.
EAM Jaishankar said the development would contribute to further deepening cooperation between India and the Pacific Islands region.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the FIPIC partnership and expanding cooperation in renewable energy, climate action, disaster resilience, education, healthcare and capacity building, as well as cooperation in regional and multilateral forums.
