On Wednesday, Pabitra Margherita, the Minister of State for External Affairs, met with Manoa Kamikamica, the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji. MoS Margherita shared the details of the meeting on X.

He said, "Delighted to meet Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for @MCTTTFiji Hon. Manoa Kamikamica @FijiGovernment. Had fruitful discussions on further strengthening our close and special partnership." The meeting assumes significance as it follows the Ministry of External Affairs' official announcement on Tuesday that it had signed a Project Implementation Agreement with the International Solar Alliance to operationalise a $2 million solar project in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles.

India has pledged $2 million to fund new solar projects in Indo-Pacific countries as part of the Quad Climate Working Group initiative. After the agreement was signed, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared on social media that India is committed to supporting renewable energy and fair energy transitions in the island nations of the Indo-Pacific region. India's Prime Minister's November 2014 visit to Fiji, which included the First Meeting of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Co-operation (FIPIC), significantly strengthened the two countries' bilateral ties. Fiji's nation-building efforts in critical areas and capacity building have benefited from India's support throughout the years as a major development partner, the MEA stated. The Indian government is a dedicated partner in Fiji's development.

Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programs, the MEA claims that Indian support covers areas including capacity building through training and human resource development. Numerous ITEC slots are made available to Fijian nationals each year, and many others take advantage of training opportunities and higher education in India through various scholarships provided by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Ministry of AYUSH of India. India helps Fiji with humanitarian and disaster relief whenever needed. The relationship between India and Fiji is strong, built on mutual respect, cooperation and deep cultural and personal connections.