Why in the News?
India recently hosted a meeting of foreign ministers of Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in New York.
About Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC):
- Launch: Established in 2014 during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Fiji under the Act East Policy.
- Members: Comprises 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) i.e Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
- Objectives: Strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, health, agriculture, renewable energy, disaster management, digital connectivity, and climate change adaptation.
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Summits Held:
- Suva (2014)
- Jaipur (2015)
- Port Moresby (2023)
- Key Initiatives: $1 million climate fund, Pan-Pacific Islands e-network, visa on arrival, cooperation in space technology, and training of diplomats.
- Trade: Current bilateral trade is about $300 million annually (exports $200 million, imports $100 million).
Strategic Importance of FIPIC:
- Indo-Pacific Outreach: Expands India’s role in maritime governance and regional security.
- Countering China: Acts as a soft-power tool to balance China’s influence in the Pacific.
- Maritime Leverage: PICs control vast Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) crucial for shipping lanes, fisheries, and seabed resources.
- Climate Diplomacy: Strengthens India’s leadership with climate-vulnerable PICs under South-South cooperation.
- Global Forums: PICs often vote as a bloc in UN, WTO, and other multilateral institutions, enhancing India’s diplomatic weight.
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