Fiji-India Bilateral Relations

Background

Fiji’s links with India began in 1879 when Indian laborers were brought to the country by the British to work on the colonial sugar plantations under the indenture system. Between 1879 and 1916, up to 65,000 Indians (Girmitiyas) were brought to Fiji and were given the option of staying back in Fiji upon completion of their indenture. From early 20th century, Indian traders and others also started arriving in Fiji. In 1920, the indenture system was finally abolished due to growing opposition from India, Fiji and around the world to the slave-like conditions under which the Girmitiyas worked. Many of the Girmitiyas chose to return, while several stayed back and made Fiji their home. Five generations later, the descendants of the Girmitiyas enjoy the same rights as equal citizens in Fiji and add to the rich social and cultural milieu of the country.

High-Level Visits/Exchanges

Visit of Prime Minister of India to Fiji

The Hon. Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Fiji on 19 November 2014 and this was a breakthrough and memorable event since the last visit by an Indian Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi in 1981. PM Modi’s visit not only boosted Fiji-India relations but also cemented India’s relations with all the Pacific Island Countries. During the visit Fiji and India signed three MoUs, namely: (i) MoU for Extending a Line of Credit for Establishing a Co-Generation Plant in Fiji, (ii) MoU on Cooperation in the field of training of diplomats, and (iii) MoU on the Earmarking of Land for their Diplomatic Missions in the respective capitals.

Visit of Hon. Prime Minister of Fiji to India

Fiji became one of the first Founding Members of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) – a joint initiative of the Governments of India and France to promote solar energy. PM Bainimarama participated in the Founding Conference of the ISA held in New Delhi on 11 March 2018

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FIPIC-I: 

: The Forum for India-Pacific Island Countries (FIPIC) was inaugurated on 19 November 2014 in Suva. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India also hosted the First Summit of the Forum in Suva during his historic visit to Fiji on 19 November 2014. The Forum saw participation of 14 Pacific Island Countries. India announced various development assistance initiatives during the Summit and other cooperation projects in various fields including, Climate Change, trade, economy, telemedicine and tele-education, IT, Grants for community development projects, human resource development and deputation of experts from India, etc.

FIPIC-II:

Prime Minister Hon’ble Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama attended the second FIPIC at Jaipur on 21 August 2015, which was hosted by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Building upon the success of the first FIPIC, India announced major initiatives to boost cooperation with the 14 Pacific Island countries.

FIPIC-III:

The third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), on 22 May 2023 and attended by Prime Minister Modi and leaders of the 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) including Prime Minister of Fiji Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka.

At the FIPIC III Summit a number of new initiatives including a 12 step Action Plan were announced by India, in line with needs of the PICs. Some of the important initiatives announced included establishing a super-specialty cardiology hospital in Fiji, dialysis units in all the 14 Pacific island countries, sea ambulances to be provided to all the 14 PICs. India proposed to start centers similar to ‘Jan Aushadhi’ for affordable medicines and also announced setting up of yoga centers in the islands countries. Other projects included development of SME sector in every PIC, under which machinery and technology supplies would be provided and capacity building programmes would be conducted.

On the side-lines of the FIPIC summit, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed matter of mutual interest. During this meeting, on behalf of His Excellency the President of Fiji, Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka bestowed the Prime Minister of India with Fiji’s highest Honour – the Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF).

12th World Hindi Conference Hosted in Nadi, Fiji:

The 12th WHC was held in Nadi from 15-17 February 2023 organized in collaboration with the Government of India. His Excellency, the President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and Minister of External Affairs, Sri S. Jaishankar jointly inaugurated the Conference on 15 February 2023. Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, and three Deputy Prime Ministers, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, Hon. Viliame Gavoka and Hon. Prof. Biman Prasad; Minister for Education, Hon. Aseri Radrodro; Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar, Hon. Charan Jeath Singh; Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Hon. Agni Deo Singh; and other senior Government officials participated in the conference.

The Minister of External Affairs, Sri S. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation comprising Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan; Minister of State (Home Affairs), Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra; Members of Parliament, Hindi Scholars and senior officials. Over 1,000 participants from over 31 countries attended the Conference.

Girmit Day Celebration in Fiji

  • Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Hon. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh was the Guest of Honour at the Girmit Day celebrations on 15th May 2023 organized in Suva by the Government of Fiji to recognize and celebrate the history and contributions of indentured Indian workers to Fiji. Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, was the Chief Guest at the Girmit Day celebrations and later met MoS Hon. Singh

Foreign Office Consultation (FOC):

The Fifth round of India-Fiji FOC was held on 18 July 2022 at Suva. Secretary (East), Ministry o External Affairs, Govt. of India led the Indian delegation, while Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs led the Fijian side to review and deepen our bilateral/multilateral cooperation activities. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of interest and agreed to enhance cooperation in the multilateral fora.

Interaction with PSIDS:

On 24 September 2019, on the side lines of the UNGA in New York, the leaders of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) met with Prime Minister Modi. Hon. Dr. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India held a bilateral meeting with Hon. Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs of Republic of Fiji on the margins of the UNGA on 24 September 2019 in New York.

India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IPISDC):

Government of India organized the India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IPISDC) which was held at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva from 25-26 May 2017. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Dr.) V.K.Singh (Retd.) hosted the event. The Conference saw the participation of several high-profile leaders from the 14 Pacific Island Countries. India signed MoUs for setting up of Centers of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) with Fiji, Cook Islands, Nauru, Samoa and Niue. India and Fiji also signed three MOUs for ‘Co-operation in Youth Development’, ‘Cooperation between Broadcasting Agencies’, ‘Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy’. Prasar Bharati of India also gifted programmatic content on India for telecast to all the Pacific Island Countries. India had provided US$1 million towards Climate Change assistance to Fiji’s COP23 Presidency.

Other Ministerial Visits

  • Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service, Communications, Housing and Community Development, Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum attended the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) from 15-17 February 2018 which was organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). During the visit, Hon. Attorney General also had fruitful discussions on bilateral matters with Hon’ble Minister of Railways of India, Shri Piyush Goyal. Consequent to the discussions held during the visit, a three-member experts’ team from Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES) visited Fiji on 27 February to 2 March 2018 to review the Fijian railway link with the aim for up-gradation of the same.
  • Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment, Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy visited India to attend UN Convention to Combat Desertification held on 9-10 September 2019. During his visit, he also had fruitful bilateral discussions with the Secretary of Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and had a roundtable meeting with the Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Dr Ajay Mathur.
  • Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management & Meteorological Services, Hon. Jone Usamate attended the 2nd Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi from 30 October to 2 November 2019 and the 5th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) from 17 – 20 October 2022.
  • Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Fiji, Hon. Veena Bhatnagar, visited India (Ayodhya) for Deepotsav 2019 on 26 October 2019. She was invited as the Chief Guest on the occasion by the Government of State of Utter Pradesh. She also visited Parliament of India and held a courtesy meeting with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Government of India, Hon. V. Muraleedharan.
  • Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment – Honourable Dr Mahendra Reddy and his delegation attended the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019.
  • The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Professor Biman Prasad attended the India Energy Week that was held in Bengaluru, India from 6th to 8th February, 2023. On the sidelines of this event, Prof. Prasad met India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Hon. Hardeep Singh Puri in Bangaluru. Prof. Prasad had separate meetings with the Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, Shri. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (Minister of State for External Affairs and Secretary East, Mr. Saurabh Kumar. DPM Prasad also attended Pacific Night celebrations while in Delhi.
  • Minister of Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry, Hon. Charan Jeeth Singh attended the XXXI Congress of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologies 2023 in Hyderabad India from 20-24 February 2023. The Honourable Minister was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Sugar Corporation and the Growers Council.
  • Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Hon. Jovesa Vocea attended the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI 2023) from 4th to 5th April 2023 in New Delhi, India. During this visit, Hon. Vocea also met with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav and the Director General of National Disaster Response Force, Shri Atul Karwal.
  • Minister of Health and Medical Services, Hon. Dr. Ratu Antonio Rabici Lalabalavu the Asia Pacific Leaders’ Conclave on Malaria Elimination in New Delhi on April 24, 2023, which was organized in partnership with the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA).
  • Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Jese Saukuru attended the 18th Asia/Oceania Region Intergovernmental Ministerial Meeting on Anti-Doping in Sport in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 12-13 June 2023.

Cooperation at International Fora

  • Fiji signed and ratified Framework Agreement for International Solar Agreement (ISA) and became a founding member of the ISA by depositing the Instrument of Ratification at New Delhi on 25 September 2017.
  • Fiji became one of the founding members of the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). In September 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 held in New York, USA, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi announced a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) on 23 September 2019.
  • On 17 March 2021, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Fiji, Honourable Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama; Prime Minister of United Kingdom The Rt Honourable Boris Johnson; Prime Minister of Italy, Mr. Mario Draghi OMRI inaugurated the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI 2021).

Development Partnership Assistance

The Government of India has been a committed development partner of Fiji and assisted in a multitude of areas such as capacity building through human resource development and training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programmes. Every year, many ITEC slots are made available to Fijian nationals. Many others benefit from training opportunities and pursue higher education in India every year under various scholarships offered by Ministry of AYUSH of India as well as by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). India has also provided Humanitarian and Disaster Relief assistance from time to time whenever the need arose, and most recently in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston and following TC Ana and TC Yasa.

Under Government of Fiji’s Adopt a School Programme, India helped renovate twenty schools in Fiji. India also gifted five tons of vegetable seeds and contributed US$ 1 million to the Fijian Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Likewise, India also supported the Fijian SME Sector through grant assistance and the Fijian Sugar Industry through direct financial assistance and also through training programmes. India also extended cooperation for Fijian General Elections of 2014 and 2018, and helped establish a Centre of Excellence in IT at Fiji National University.

Commercial and Economic Relations

Trade between Fiji and India have grown over the years and India remains a supplier of many of the goods and services consumed in Fiji from machinery, farm implements, electronics, apparel, spices, gems and jewellery to pharmaceuticals among others. A lot of trade and investment from India happens through third countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand and these are not realistically captured in official statistics. India is a major destination for medical and healthcare requirements, while tourism and film shooting has been on the rise.

Indian Diaspora

There are number of Indians living in Fiji easily about 1,500 in any given year and engaged in a variety of areas namely IT, management, finance, banking, business, educational, medical, hotel industry, students, etc. There are several hundred Fijians living and studying in India and can be seen in many of the States in India-including in business, sports and Bollywood. In the recent past, some 150 Fijians have visited India under the Know-India-Programme. Pre-pandemic, several thousand Fijians of Indian origin used to visit India for tourism and for ‘tirath yatra’ and the diaspora helps strengthen the strong cultural ties on both ends.

Hindi Conference in Fiji:

The first Regional Hindi Conference was held in Suva on 25 January 2020 in collaboration with Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Government of Fiji. The Conference was attended by Fijian, Indian as well as regional Hindi experts. The Conference also, for the first time in Fiji, attracted the largest ever gathering of Hindi teachers in Fiji. The said conference was a build up to the 12th World Hindi Conference held in Fiji in February 2023.

Other Recent Bilateral Engagements

Cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors between India and Fiji

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors between India and Fiji was signed on 22 June 2021 during a virtual event organized by Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the Republic of Fiji. The MoU was signed by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India and by Hon Dr. Mahendra Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Waterways and Environment, Government of Fiji. The objective of this MoU is to establish cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors including but not limited to development of industries related with Dairy, Rice, Coconut, Food Processing and Horticulture, Root crop diversification, Water Resources Management, Agriculture Mechanization. It is also aimed at promoting capacity building in all areas of agriculture through a number of initiatives including exchange of scientists, research personnel and technical trainees as well as development of infrastructure for agriculture. The scope of this MoU covers avenues for promotion of joint ventures between private sectors of both countries, promotion of investment in marketing and value addition of agricultural commodities to create opportunities for direct trade of agriculture products through market access. The MoU also has provisions for establishment of Indo-Fiji Working Group for dealing with phytosanitary issues, and any other form of cooperation.

Commercial and Economic Relations

Trade between Fiji and India have been growing over the years and India remains a supplier of many of the goods and services consumed in Fiji from machinery, farm implements, electronics, apparel, spices, gems and jewellery to pharmaceuticals among others. A lot of trade and investment from India happens through third countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand and these are not realistically captured. Today India is a major destination for medical and healthcare requirements, while tourism and film shooting is also on the rise.

Indian Diaspora

There are number of Indians living in Fiji easily about 1,500 in any given year and engaged in a variety of areas namely IT, management, finance, banking, business, educational, medical, hotel industry, students, etc. There are several hundred Fijians living and studying in India and can be seen in many of the States in India-including in business, sports and Bollywood. In the recent past, some 148 Fijians have visited India under the Know-India-Programme. Pre-pandemic, several thousand Fijians of Indian origin used to visit India for tourism and for ‘tirath yatra’ and the diaspora helps strengthen the strong cultural ties on both ends.

Hindi Conference in Fiji:

The first Regional Hindi Conference was held in Suva on 25 January 2020 in collaboration with Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Government of Fiji. The Conference was attended by Fijian, Indian as well as regional Hindi experts. The Conference also, for the first time in Fiji, attracted the largest ever gathering of Hindi teachers in Fiji. The follow-up World Hindi Conference was to be held in Fiji in 2021 but due to the pandemic has been re-scheduled to be held in November 2022.