External Affairs Minister Chairs FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

The External Affairs Minister chairs a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting places FIPIC in focus as India’s multilateral platform for cooperation with Pacific Island countries.

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) :

Dimension	Key Details
Nature	FIPIC comprises a multilateral platform established by India to enhance cooperation with the Pacific Island countries.
Establishment	FIPIC has been established in 2014 during the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Fiji.
Members	FIPIC comprises 14 island countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Policy linkage	In line with the Act East Policy, through FIPIC, India has primarily focused its efforts on the Pacific Islands.
Economic cooperation (trade)	Total annual trade between India and Pacific Island countries comprises about $300 million, with exports around $200 million and imports around $100 million.
Summits held	Three FIPIC summits have been held: 1st in 2014 (Suva, Fiji), 2nd in 2015 (Jaipur, India), and 3rd in 2023 (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea).