New Delhi: India and Fiji signed a Memorandum of Understanding on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders on Thursday in presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, reported ANI. “I just signed and exchanged the visa waiver agreement. It will be helpful in encouraging greater travel between our two countries,” Jaishankar said during the occasion.
Fiji PM Rabuka called it a “landmark achievement” and said “the positive discussion we had today to further advance mutual cooperation in key areas of development notably in health, and education.”
“On behalf of the Govt of Fiji, I thank the Govt of India for realising this important cooperation. I'm confident that we will witness many more such initiatives unfolding through deepening of our cooperation,” Rabuka added.
Jaishankar on his three-day visit to the island nation inaugurated the 12th Vishwa Hindi Sammelan. “I would also say the experience of the world at Hindi convention would also surely enthuse all delegates, friends, and relatives to come to Fiji as well,” said Jaishankar.
The Union Minister also said that being a region that is prone to natural disasters, India has long stood with Fiji in difficult times.
“We've been first responders on certain occasions and during COVID, in line with our 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, Fiji was the recipient of 100,000 doses of vaccine in March 2021.”
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“India and Fiji have close and long-standing ties and a large part of that is built on our people-to-people linkages. We've been privileged to partner Fiji in its nation-building efforts across various sectors in working with it in capacity building in health, education, agriculture,” he said.
“We have done projects in the sugarcane industry. We have worked together in renewable energy and I think today one part of our discussions looked at areas like IT support for medium and small enterprises,” Jaishankar added.