October 2020 \ Interviews \ COVER STORY—50 YEARS OF FIJI INDEPENDENCE
“Fiji and India share deep and enduring ties”

On his nation’s 50th year of independence H.E. Mr. Yogesh Punja, High Commissioner of Fiji to India, spoke to India Empire magazine’s Editor and Publisher Sayantan Chakravarty on issues ranging from bilateral ties to the Indian diaspora, from diplomatic grouping in the southern Pacific to tourism opportunities ...

Heads of Mission (Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea) at the Pacific Night 2019

Also, the Forum for India-Pacific Island Countries was inaugurated at Suva in November 2014 by Indian Prime Mr Narendra Modi. He also hosted the forum’s first summit. What are the major activities that have been undertaken by this forum?

FIPIC, a multinational Pacific grouping was launched during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Fiji in November 2014. A number of initiatives were announced at the inaugural FIPIC Summit. Recognizing climate change as a major issue of concern in the region, PM Modi announced a Special Adaptation Fund of US$1million to provide technical assistance and training for capacity building to the PICs. To enhance connectivity, a Pan Pacific Islands Project for E-network was announced. India also announced grant-in-aid of US$ 200,000 annually for each fourteen Pacific Island Country.

The second summit of the FIPIC Forum was hosted by India at Jaipur, Rajasthan, August 2015. Building on the first summit, discussions took place on various issues of significance to the members such as climate change, clean energy, food security.

This forum has enabled PICs and India to engage bilaterally in areas such as climate change, trade, economy, telemedicine and tele-education, IT, grants for community development projects, human resource development and deputation of experts from India.




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