India has proposed capacity-building programs specifically tailored for Pacific Island Countries (PICs). External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that professionals from the region can undergo specialized, priority-based training in India. He added that India is ready to develop training modules based on the specific priorities of the Pacific Island Countries.
Jaishankar put forward this proposal on Wednesday while addressing the second meeting of Foreign Ministers of the ‘Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation’ (FIPIC) in New York. Senior representatives from several Pacific Island nations and the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum participated in this meeting, which was held during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
India Reviews FIPIC Progress, Highlights Healthcare and Capacity-Building Initiatives
The meeting reviewed the progress made since the third FIPIC Summit held in 2023, including the implementation of the summit’s 12-point action plan through the FIPIC framework and the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. Jaishankar stated that these initiatives have focused on strengthening livelihoods, capacity building, and promoting sustainable development.
India has received requests for 20 sea ambulances from 12 Pacific Island nations; the procurement process is underway, and delivery is expected to be completed by March 2027. A camp for fitting artificial limbs is also planned to be held in Fiji in October, which is expected to benefit approximately 650 eligible patients.
India highlighted the progress made in various healthcare initiatives, including the 100-bed super-specialty hospital currently under construction in Fiji. India has also supplied hemodialysis machines to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands, while deliveries to four other member nations are underway.
Digital, Solar and Space Cooperation Feature in India-Pacific Agenda
India has completed the solarisation of 2,800 households across 14 Pacific Island countries and trained 70 women solar engineers. Under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, 20 projects have been undertaken so far, with three currently underway, mainly in areas such as climate action, renewable energy and sustainable development.
India has expanded initiatives to enhance digital capacity in the region, including the establishment of Centres of Excellence in IT and training for local instructors. Such initiatives have been completed in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Niue, the Solomon Islands, and the Marshall Islands.
Jaishankar also reaffirmed India’s commitment to setting up a Space Technology Application Centre in Papua New Guinea and a Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research Institute at the University of the South Pacific. He invited Pacific Island countries to submit proposals for quick-impact projects benefiting local communities.
They welcomed India’s inclusion in the Pacific Islands Forum’s Strategic Partners Group and stated that this would strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation. The countries reaffirmed their cooperation in the areas of healthcare, education, renewable energy, climate action, disaster resilience, and capacity building.
(DD News)
