Overview of Fiji PM Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka’s Visit to India from August 24 to August 26, 2025

The Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, undertook a 3-day official visit to India from August 24 to August 26, 2025, at the invitation of PM of India Narendra Modi.

• He was accompanied by his spouse Sulueti Rabuka and a delegation which included Minister of Health and Medical Services Ratu Antonio Lalabalavu; and other senior officials of Fijian government.
• This marked Fijian PM Rabuka 1st ever official visit to India as the PM of the South Pacific nation.

Key Highlights:

Aim: The visit of Fiji’s PM to India was aimed to strengthen India-Fiji bilateral relations in a range of areas such as maritime security, trade, health, digital technology and capacity building.

Bilateral Meeting: PM Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Delhi.

• During the meeting, leaders of both countries reiterated their commitment towards ‘Zero Tolerance’ to terrorism.
• 9 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and bilateral documents across various sectors such as: agriculture, education, healthcare, mobility, defence, among others; were exchanged in the presence of PM Modi and Fiji’s PM Rabuka.

Key Outcomes:

9 Bilateral Documents and MoUs:

Super-Specialty Hospital: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of India (GoI) and the Government of Fiji, for the design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of a 100-bedded Super-Specialty Hospital in Suva, the capital city of Fiji.

• This is the largest project undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) under its Grand-in-Aid Programme in the Pacific region.

Healthcare: M/s HLL Lifecare Limited, Indian Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has signed a MoU with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Fiji, for the supply of low-cost generic medicines to Fiji under Pradhan Mantri-Janashadhi Scheme.

Standardization: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has signed a MoU with the Department of National Measurement and Standards (DNTMS) through the Ministry of Trade Cooperatives, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Communications for and on behalf of the Government of Fiji, aimed to strengthen cooperation in the field of standardization.

Capacity Building: The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), India has signed a MoU with the Pacific POLYTECH, Fiji, to bolster cooperation in the field of human capacity skilling and Upskilling.

Implementation of QIP: Both India and Fiji signed a MoU regarding Indian Grant assistance for implementation of 1st Quick Impact Project (QIP) in Fiji for the Tubalevu Village Ground Water Supply.

• It was 1st announced by the GoI at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting held in Tonga, 2024.

Migration & Mobility: Also, both countries signed a Declaration of Intent (DoI) on migration and mobility. This will facilitate mobility of professionals, and students between India and Fiji.

Handing Over the Lease Title: The Government of Fiji has officially handed over the lease title for the construction of Chancery-cum-Cultural Centre for the High Commission of India in Suva.

Agriculture: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU) with Fiji Development Bank (FDB), to foster collaboration in rural development, agricultural financing and financial inclusion.

Economy: A MoU was signed between Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF) to further bolster economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

Key Announcements:

Gifting of Agricultural Drones: PM Modi announced the gifting of 12 agricultural drones and 2 mobile soil testing laboratories under India’s Grants-in-Aid Programme to Fiji.

• This move aims to promote innovation and enhance productivity in sugar sector of Fiji.
• He has further announced that GoI intends to send an Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) expert to the Fiji Sugar Corporation, along with the organisation of specialized ITEC training programmes for Fijian sugar sector professionals.

Defence: Both countries announced various measures to expand defence cooperation for instance: port call by an Indian Naval Ship (INS) to Fiji in 2025;

• Creation of defence attache’ post in High Commission of India in Suva, Fiji;
• Gifting of two sea ambulances by India to military forces of Fiji.

Health: The GoI has also announced plans to extend specialized/tertiary medical care services in Indian hospitals for maximum 10 Fijians under the ‘Heal in India’ programme, which will supplement Fiji’s Overseas Medical Referral programme.

Education: The GoI has also announced the deputation of Hindi-cum-Sanskrit Teacher to the University of Fiji

Culture: PM announced that the 2nd Jaipur Foot Camp will be organised in Fiji.

• India has extended its support to train a cohort of Pundits from Fiji in India who would also participate in the ‘International Geeta Mahotsav (IGM2025)’ in India later this year.

Cricket: Modi announced that India would send a cricket coach to train Fiji’s national team as part of broader people-to-people ties, echoing previous initiatives where India supported cricket development in Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean.

Other Key Announcements:

• The GoI has accepted the proposed visit of the Parliamentary Delegation and of the Great Council of Chiefs’ (GCC) Delegation from Fiji to India in 2026.
• PM of Fiji Rabuka expressed interest in joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• Both countries welcomed the establishment of Cyber Security Training Cell (CSTC) in Fiji.
• Fiji has extended its support for India as a Permanent Member in a reformed and expanded United National Security Council (UNSC) and has reaffirmed its support to India’s candidature for UNSC non-permanent membership for the term 2028-29.

Other Key Highlights:

Ocean of Peace: PM of Fiji Rabuka outlined his vision of an ‘Ocean of Peace’ which focuses on building a peaceful, stable, secure, and sustainable future and well-being for the Pacific region.

• He outlined this vision during the 54th Sapru House Lecture on ‘Ocean of Peace’ held in New Delhi (Delhi), organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
• Nutan Kapoor Mahawar, Acting Director General (DG) and Additional Secretary of ICWA, chaired the lecture.

Fiji’s PM Visited UIDAI HQs: PM of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka visited the headquarters of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in New Delhi, Delhi.

• He was welcomed by Bhuvnesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UIDAI and senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (IT)(MeitY).
• During the visit, he was briefed about the digital reforms of India such as Aadhaar and Digilocker initiatives, by the senior officials of UIDAI.

About Fiji:
Prime Minister (PM) – Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka
Capital- Suva
Currency- Fijian Dollar (FJD)