India and Fiji on Thursday discussed ways to strengthen cooperation across a range of development sectors, including affordable social housing, sustainable urban development, waste management and local governance, as the two countries continued efforts to deepen their longstanding bilateral partnership.
The discussions took place during a meeting between India's High Commissioner to Fiji, Suneet Mehta, and Fiji's Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa. According to the Indian High Commission in Fiji, both sides explored opportunities to expand collaboration in housing and urban infrastructure while reinforcing the broader India-Fiji development partnership.
In a separate meeting, High Commissioner Mehta called on Fiji's Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Charan Jeath Singh, to discuss enhancing cooperation in coconut and coir development through Fiji Coconut Millers. The talks also focused on expanding development cooperation between the two countries.
The engagements follow an earlier meeting this week between Mehta and Fiji's Agriculture Minister, Tomasi Tunabuna, during which the two sides explored collaboration in agriculture and agritech, reflecting growing cooperation across multiple sectors.
India also continued its educational and cultural outreach in Fiji. The High Commission of India, along with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Suva, distributed books to the Pacific Nations School to encourage reading, lifelong learning and cultural exchange among students.
The High Commission said the initiative aimed to strengthen the enduring friendship between India and Fiji through education, culture and shared values.
India and Fiji share close historical and cultural ties dating back to 1879, when Indian labourers were taken to Fiji under the British indenture system to work on sugarcane plantations. Today, the relationship is underpinned by strong people-to-people links and cooperation across sectors such as capacity building, agriculture, infrastructure, education and sustainable development, with India continuing to support Fiji's developmental priorities through various bilateral initiatives.
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