Solomon Islands urges stronger FIPIC mechanisms to turn India’s 2023 Pacific commitments into tangible development outcomes.
Solomon Islands has called for the strengthening of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) to ensure commitments made by India to Pacific Island countries translate into tangible development outcomes.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Rick Houenipwela highlighted during the FIPIC Foreign Ministers Meeting on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He said FIPIC remains a strategically important platform for advancing practical and sustainable cooperation between India and the Pacific.
Minister Houenipwela said the 2023 FIPIC pledges should be supported by the right institutional mechanisms and strategic engagement to ensure their effective implementation.
He said Solomon Islands welcomed India’s growing engagement with the Pacific and looked forward to expanding cooperation in key areas including education, health, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, connectivity, innovation, SMEs, trade and investment.
The Minister also stressed the need for development cooperation to reflect the realities of Pacific Island countries, including their geographical remoteness and limited infrastructure.
“Solomon Islands is confident that India’s commitment to our partnership can support the effective implementation of the FIPIC pledges announced in 2023 and contribute to sustainable development and stronger India-Pacific relations,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted the longstanding Solomon Islands-India relationship and welcomed further cooperation in education and health.
He also acknowledged India’s support for human-resource development, SINU and strengthening Solomon Islands’ health services and technical capacity.
SOURCE// OPMC PRESS RELEASE
