NEW DELHI: India and Fiji on Wednesday signed three agreements on Wednesday even as PM Narendra Modi announced visa on arrival for Fiji people.
Addressing Fijian parliament, PM Modi called Fiji a leader in the region and highlighted the need to make make travel easier between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced a $5 million fund to promote small business and village enterprises in Fiji, after his talks with Fijian counterpart Frank Bainimarama.
“I regard Fiji as an important partner for India. We have deep and enduring ties of history and culture. Fiji is an influential voice in the Pacific Region and the developing world, and our partner in multilateral institutions,” PM Modi said after his meeting with Frank Bainimarama.
“We face many common global challenges. We have shared interests in peace and cooperation in our inter-linked ocean regions,” the PM said.
Calling for a stronger cooperation between the two countries, Modi said, “Our bilateral relations and international partnership has been strong. But, we are also aware that the relationship has at times been adrift; and that our cooperation should be much stronger than it is.So, I see this visit as an opportunity to renew an old relationship and lay the foundation for a strong partnership in the future.”
Prime Minister Modi said Fiji could serve as a hub for stronger Indian engagement with Pacific Islands.
“We will also expand our defence and security cooperation, including assistance in defence training and capacity building,” the PM said, adding, “we agreed to identify opportunities to expand our trade and investments and work out a concrete roadmap.”
In addition to traditional areas of economic cooperation, we look forward to closer engagement in areas like information technology and space applications, the PM said.
The Prime Minister said that India was willing to build a digital Fiji and prepare the youth to integrate Fiji with the global IT network.
“In this digital age, every nation can be a part of the global information industry. It is an industry that offers a great path to prosperity and it has the right carbon footprint.
“We are pleased to set up a centre for excellence in information and technology here in Fiji.”
Earlier, PM Narendra Modi reached Fiji on Tuesday night for a day-long visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 33 years.
Modi arrived in Fiji from Melbourne on board on a special Indian Air Force plane on the last leg of his three-nation ten-day tour after a hectic four-city Australia visit.
Modi was received at the airport by Prime Minister Bainimarama. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Fiji in 1981.
