Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, a very good morning.
It is a pleasure to be here with you all today, in this beautiful island nation of Fiji.
With the Forum for India and Pacific Island Countries (FIPIC), India and the Pacific Island Countries are setting a matchless example of a global partnership. Ours is a unique partnership based on our common aspirations for our people and the challenges we
face. I would like to welcome all the FIPIC partner countries. It is an honour to have you all here at this conference.
During the two FIPIC Summits that we have had so far, our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has clearly articulated that India wishes to be a close partner of the Pacific Islands and would work closely to advance the developmental agenda of Pacific Island Countries.
He has also said that India will provide technical assistance and training for capacity building to Pacific Island Partners to address Climate Change issues. To this effect India has taken up a number of initiatives for the benefit of our friends in this region.
We are at a very important point of time for the world, where we are looking at creating a sustainable future for the entire global community and for ensuring our very existence. All nations – large and small – having equal stakes in realizing this vision.
While our geographies might seem to be very different from each other, the reality is that India with its 7,500 km long coastline and around 1,000 small islands has a lot in common with the Pacific islands countries. India is and has always been a maritime
country. It is for this reason that the reach of our civilisation has extended to much of South East Asia which is the near neighbouhood for both us and you.
We also have a shared heritage and culture, in terms of the reverence we attach to nature and its preservation. For centuries we have recognised the invaluable and inviolable status of our natural environment and we have taken the path of development while
respecting nature. Today, the world too is realizing the importance of sustainable development. It is important for us to encourage countries to be true to their commitments and to push forward to achieve or surpass our targets to reduce emissions, through
mutual cooperation and collaboration.
Climate change is of prime concern to us and combating it is one of India’s national priorities. Climate change related natural hazards threaten the existence of the Pacific Islands and is severely impacting millions back in India, especially those living near
our shoreline and our islands. We both seek to highlight this to the world to solicit their cooperation to build resilience and adaptation of our economies. We need to join hands through knowledge sharing, technology sharing and capacity building to minimise
the serious impact of natural hazards, limiting human and economic loss.
India is happy that Fiji, one among the FIPIC countries, will hold the presidency for COP-23 to be held in Bonn this year. This I believe will send a strong message to the world and would highlight the effects of Climate Change on Island countries.
I am glad to announce that India will be contributing US$ 1mn to Fiji’s Trust Fund for their Presidency to COP-23.
India is fully committed to renewable energy for our future development, as are the Pacific Island Countries. We are looking at expanding renewable energy very rapidly. Solar, wind, hydro, biomass - all forms of energy which can reduce the carbon footprint
and help us leave a better planet for the next generation – are receiving unprecedented attention in India. An initiative of note is the International Solar Alliance, which was launched by India in partnership with France in 2015 to develop and promote solar
energy and is an example of India’s commitment to promoting the growth of renewable energy globally.
There is a need of cutting edge engineering and technology which is suitable for our economies and an opportunity to leap frog the learning curve with the help of next generation technologies, to provide a sustainable energy future to every citizen. There are
many challenges we face as we pursue economic development for our people using sustainable pathways. But this is also an opportunity for us to think out of the box, and to maximise resource utilisation for the common good. There are many innovative models
and businesses which are pursuing this very goal and we hope to learn more about these during the Conference.
The fortunes of our regions are linked to our two oceans – the Indian and the Pacific. Oceans are critical to both yours and India’s future and there is huge potential for cooperation in this area. In the 21st century, oceans have once again reclaimed their
role of vital drivers of growth and economies. Besides trade, they are the source of clean energy, food security, climate regulating factors, medicines, etc. But at the same time, it is essential to utilize their bounty sustainably. Our discussions on the
Blue Economy track will shed more light on the solutions and progress in this area.
In the end, I’d like to echo Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words. India sees you as Large Ocean States with unlimited potential in this inter connected world. We come here today with the hope of strengthening and taking forward our partnership and to take
concrete action to create the sustainable world we envision.
With this, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for taking time to be a part of this event and gracing us with your presence. I look forward to some great discussions in the two days ahead and also to meeting with you all personally during
the course of the Conference.
Thank you.