| Introduction: Outline PM visit to island states Body: Explain the positives and significance of this visit. Conclusion: conclude how these island countries are crucial for India. |
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.
