“For example, India [would be able] to provide satellite data on climate change to countries of the Pacific region”.
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Leaders and delegates from 14 island nations are in Jaipur for the second Summit of the Forum for India- Pacific Islands Cooperation.
Indian space program scientists already have experience on the Fiji Islands, stationed there to track the country’s Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission after its launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota, southern India in late 2013.
Fisheries, agriculture, oil and natural gas, mining and water desalination would be the priorities of cooperation between India and Pacific nations, he added.
On Thursday, addressing the heads of the Pacific Island nations who are in New Delhi for the summit, President Pranab Mukherjee said: “UNSC reform and expansion will be discussed and concrete proposals are expected to be considered in the forthcoming UNGA session next month”.
“Our government attaches great importance to its relations with our friends in the Pacific island countries”.
In an address to the FIPIC leaders, she said: “You may be far from us geographically but you have always had a special place in our hearts”, according to tweets posted by external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
Mukherjee said India appreciates the support it has received from them for its candidature for a permanent seat on an expanded UN Security Council.
“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. We hope this will support specific projects prioritised by you”, he said.
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In tweets, Modi said: “I am very optimistic about FIPIC Summit”. Mukherjee highlighted India’s current growth in various sectors and encouraged investments for prudent growth prospects. The island nations which will take part in the FIPIC Summit include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia and Marshall Islands.
