Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC)

Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India hosted the FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York on the sidelines of the United Nation General Assembly.

About FIPIC

• The FIPIC was launched in November 2014 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Fiji.
• Purpose
  • Enhance India’s engagement in the Pacific region beyond the Indian Ocean.
  • Foster cooperation in climate change, clean energy, digital connectivity, trade, space technology, and capacity building.
• Participants: 14 Pacific Island countries; Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
• Economic Cooperation: India–Pacific Island trade is around USD 300 million annually (USD 200 million exports, USD 100 million imports).
  • Initiatives include a FIPIC Trade Office at FICCI, Business Accelerator, and community project grants.

Key Initiatives

• USD 1 million fund for climate change adaptation and clean energy.
• Pan-Pacific Islands e-network for digital connectivity.
• Visa-on-arrival for Pacific nationals at Indian airports.
• Diplomat training, visitors’ programme, and enhanced grant-in-aid for local projects.
• 12 Point Action Plan announced at FIPIC III , 2023.
• • It covers healthcare, cyberspace, clean energy, water, and Small and Medium Enterprises.
  • It includes a cardiology hospital in Fiji, dialysis units and sea ambulances across all 14 PICs, and Jan Aushadhi Centres for affordable medicines.

Significance

• Strategic: Expands India’s presence in the Pacific, complementing its Indian Ocean focus.
• Economic: Opens trade and investment opportunities with nations having vast Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
• Developmental: Supports island states through health, technology, training, and climate resilience initiatives.
• Diplomatic: Reinforces India’s role as a development partner with a people-centric, sustainable agenda.

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