MoS Margherita meets Fiji Minister Esrom Immanuel; discusses developmental partnership
New Delhi, February 10
Minister of State of External Affairs Pabitra Margherita met Esrom Immanuel, Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development of Fiji on Tuesday. The leaders discussed the entire gamut of India-Fiji ties during their meeting.
Sharing the details in a post on X, MoS Margherita said that the discussions were focused on development partnership, capacity building, and possibilities for cooperation in digital infrastructure.
"Pleased to meet Hon. Esrom Immanuel, Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development of Fiji, this morning.Held productive discussions covering the entire gamut of India-Fiji bilateral relations and shared priorities, with particular focus on development partnership, capacity building, and possibilities for cooperation in digital infrastructure, including ongoing collaboration and the way ahead."
Earlier in January, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a bilateral meeting with Tomasi Tunabuna, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways of Fiji, at the Krishi Bhawan, where the two leaders discussed ongoing cooperation and outlined future areas of collaboration, as per a statement by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
As per an official statement on Friday, the Ministers held a fruitful discussion on a broad range of issues of mutual interest. The two sides agreed to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a further five years and to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) to advance cooperation.
The statement further noted that in addition to this the key areas of collaboration discussed included student exchanges, training and capacity-building programmes, and technology sharing covering small-scale machinery, and digital agriculture tools. The discussions also focused on strengthening research infrastructure, genetic exchange initiatives and knowledge sharing on reducing food loss and waste.
In December last year, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, held cordial and constructive meetings with health ministers from Sri Lanka and Fiji on the sidelines of the 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in the national capital on Thursday, underscoring India's strong bilateral ties and commitment to health cooperation in the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see consistent engagement across ministries - External Affairs, Agriculture, and Health. It shows a comprehensive foreign policy. The student exchange and training programs are particularly valuable for long-term people-to-people ties.
While I appreciate the diplomatic outreach, I hope these partnerships translate into tangible benefits for our farmers and tech companies. Sometimes these MoUs just remain on paper. The proof will be in the implementation.
The focus on digital agriculture tools and reducing food waste is crucial. India has made great strides in these areas through its own challenges. Sharing this knowledge can help build more resilient food systems globally. A win-win.
Fiji has a significant Indian diaspora. Strengthening these government-to-government ties will also provide a sense of security and opportunity for our community there. Jai Hind!
Interesting to see India's soft power strategy in action. Capacity building and digital partnerships are modern tools of diplomacy. This seems like a sustainable approach compared to just aid or loans.
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