[Answered] What are the key takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the PICs? Discuss the significance of India’s engagement with Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

 Recently PM Modi visited Port Moresby capital of Papua New Guinea which is seen as a very significant visit in engaging Pacific Island Countries (PIC) and the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). PIC is a group of 14 nations of the Southwestern Pacific that is located at the crossroads of strategically important maritime trade corridors.

What are the key takeaways from the PM visit?

• Cooperation in technology: India has played a significant role in providing technology and capacity building in areas like solar energy solutions, desalination, modern health facilities, and information systems.
• Humanitarian Assistance: India has acted as a reliable partner for PIC countries in dealing with the pandemic by supplying vaccines, sugar, and wheat.
• Climate Change: India can become a key player alongside Australia and New Zealand to help tackle climate change in island countries through the Blue Pacific 2050 strategy and South-South cooperation.
• South-South cooperation: India along with ASEAN through its Act East Policy is providing development assistance to island nations in the form of training, scholarships, grants-in-aid, and loans for the completion of community development projects.
• FIPIC summit: The PM took part in FIPIC summits which discussed challenges faced by people and improved their well-being and development.

What is the significance of India’s engagement with PIC nations?

• Contain Chinese influence: India alongside ANZUS and PIC nations can help contain Chinese influence in the Pacific Region. India can be a key development partner for PIC nations.
• Diaspora Connect: India’s connection with PIC has traditionally been because of the sizeable presence of Indians living in these countries. This has led to an increase in people-to-people ties, shared culture, and values. About 37% of Fiji’s population is of Indian origin, and about 3,000 Indians live in Papua New Guinea.
• Sustainable Development: India and PIC nations are partners in tackling climate change. Projects like International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) & Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) can help in mitigating the effects of climate change like rising sea levels which is a major concern for PIC nations.
• Economic cooperation: India’s trade with PIC nation is only $ 300 million which pales in comparison to China’s trade with PIC. India needs to cooperate with the region and ensure sustainable economic development in response to China’s checkbook diplomacy.

Conclusion:

India’s cooperation with PIC will help build trust among countries of the global south for India’s candidature on world platforms like G20, and UNSC. India can also be a credible alternative for those countries who don’t want to align themselves with either China or USA.