MoS Pabitra Margherita Meets Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica

New Delhi [India], November 28 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, met with Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica, on Wednesday, marking a significant step in strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Fiji.

MoS Margherita shared the details of the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his delight at the productive discussions: “Delighted to meet Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for @MCTTTFiji Hon. Manoa Kamikamica @FijiGovernment. Had fruitful discussions on further strengthening our close and special partnership.”

This meeting comes on the heels of the signing of a Project Implementation Agreement between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the International Solar Alliance. The agreement, signed on Tuesday, will operationalize a solar project worth USD 2 million in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles. This is part of India’s commitment to invest in solar energy projects under the Quad Climate Working Group initiative in the Indo-Pacific region.

The MEA Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, also highlighted India’s ongoing commitment to renewable energy and just energy transitions in island nations of the Indo-Pacific on social media, following the signing.

India-Fiji relations have seen steady growth, particularly since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Fiji in November 2014. The visit also marked the First Meeting of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Over the years, India has been a vital development partner for Fiji, supporting the nation across key sectors, including human resource development and capacity building through initiatives such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programs.

Every year, numerous ITEC slots are made available for Fijian nationals, while many others benefit from higher education opportunities and training in India through scholarships offered by the Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

India also provides humanitarian and disaster relief assistance to Fiji as required, underscoring the close and cooperative ties between the two countries. The relationship is rooted in mutual respect, cooperation, and strong cultural and people-to-people connections.