Seeking stronger engagement with the Pacific Islands, India on Wednesday announced a $75 million line of credit for Fiji for a co-generation power plant and upgrading the sugar industry and also a five million USD fund to develop its villages even as the two countries agreed to expand their Defence and Security cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made these announcements after talks with his Fijian counterpart Frank Bainimarama shortly after his arrival, also announced a visa on arrival for Fijians and assistance projects that included a parliament library and doubling the scholarships and training slots in India for people from this country.
The lines of credit were part of three agreements signed between the two countries in the presence of the two leaders.
Modi arrived here at the crack of dawn on the third and final leg of his 10-day three-nation tour, for a day-long visit, the first by an Indian premier to the country in 33 years after Indira Gandhi in 1981.
The tiny remote pacific Island nation rolled out the red carpet for Modi, who was received by Frank Bainimarama, a former military ruler, at the Suva International airport.
Bainimarama was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22 September after the first parliamentary elections in the pacific nation since he seized power in a coup in 2006. Modi was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the airport after which he attended the traditional ceremony of Welcome at Albert park, close to the Prime Minister’s office and Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made these announcements after talks with his Fijian counterpart Frank Bainimarama shortly after his arrival, also announced a visa on arrival for Fijians and assistance projects that included a parliament library and doubling the scholarships and training slots in India for people from this country.
The lines of credit were part of three agreements signed between the two countries in the presence of the two leaders.
Modi arrived here at the crack of dawn on the third and final leg of his 10-day three-nation tour, for a day-long visit, the first by an Indian premier to the country in 33 years after Indira Gandhi in 1981.
The tiny remote pacific Island nation rolled out the red carpet for Modi, who was received by Frank Bainimarama, a former military ruler, at the Suva International airport.
Bainimarama was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22 September after the first parliamentary elections in the pacific nation since he seized power in a coup in 2006. Modi was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the airport after which he attended the traditional ceremony of Welcome at Albert park, close to the Prime Minister’s office and Parliament.