Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC)

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar hosted a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

About FIPIC

The Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was established in 2014 as a strategic initiative by India to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural engagement with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

Member Nations

FIPIC comprises 14 Pacific Island nations:

• Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Strategic Significance

These nations are important due to their:

• Geostrategic location
• Maritime resources
• Voting strength in international forums such as the UN

India’s Interests

For India, engaging with PICs helps to:

• Counterbalance growing Chinese influence
• Deepen development partnerships in areas such as energy and sustainable growth
• Promote cultural and diplomatic ties