INDIA PACIFIC ISLANDS COOPERATION - INTERNATIONAL
News: Modi extols the value of Pacific Island nations
What is in the news?
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Recently, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said that the Small Island nations of the Pacific Ocean are in
fact “large ocean states”, and highlighted
the importance of the 14 members of the Forum for India Pacific Islands
Cooperation (FIPIC).
Key takeaways from the news:
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In the opening session of
the FIPIC 3 summit in Port Moresby, the Prime Minister of India spoke in favor
of a free and open Indo Pacific region and focused on India’s commitment to
assisting the development goals of the member countries.
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Climate change, natural
calamities, poverty and famine already existed but now new challenges are
emerging as supply chains of food, fuel fertilizer and pharma are facing
hurdles.
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The previous two meetings
of the Indian Pacific Islands Cooperation were held in November 2014 in Fiji
and August 2015 in Jaipur.
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FIPIC urged India to
serve as the voice of the Global South in the G7 and the G20.
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Papua
New Guinea conferred the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL), the
highest civilian award to PM Modi.
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India also unveiled a
12-point development programme in areas of healthcare, cyberspace, clean
energy, water and small and medium enterprises in PIC, according to which:
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India will establish a
super-specialty cardiology hospital in Fiji, introduce dialysis units and sea
ambulances in all 14 PICs, and establish Jan Aushadhi Centres to provide
affordable medicines.
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India will support the
development of the small- and medium-scale enterprise sector in each Pacific
Island nation.
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India also pledged to
provide desalination units to address water scarcity issues.
Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation:
About:
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It was launched in 2014.
Members:
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FIPIC is a multinational
grouping developed for cooperation between India and 14 PICs, namely Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands,
Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Significance of Pacific Islands to India:
1. Strategic positioning:
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The Pacific Islands hold
strategic significance for India due to their location.
2. Counter China's Dominance:
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With China also actively
engaged in the region, India’s involvement can serve as a counterbalance.
3. Trade & Investment:
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The Pacific Islands can
offer significant trade and investment opportunities for Indian businesses,
particularly in sectors such as healthcare, IT, renewable energy, and
infrastructure development.