India offers $1-million aid to disaster-hit Papua New Guinea

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

The Government of India has granted $1 million in immediate assistance to Papua New Guinea, which has experienced devastating floods and a landslip that has killed 2,000 people.

Details:

The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized India’s solidarity with Papua New Guinea, a partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), in its relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts.
India has previously supported Papua New Guinea during the 2018 earthquake and volcanic eruptions in 2019 and 2023.

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC):

FIPIC is a multinational grouping developed in 2014 for cooperation between the Republic of India and 14 Pacific Islands nations which include Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
All heads of state or heads of government of the above countries met in Suva, Fiji in November 2014 for the first time where the annual summit was conceptualised.
Objective:
- Provide necessary information and facilitation regarding prospects of Trade and Investment
- Facilitate meetings between the concerned businessmen from both sides
- Exchange of business delegations between India and Pacific Islands Countries
- Online & Offline Match-Making Services
- Organising Events / Trade Fairs
At this moment, total annual trade of about $300 million between the Indian and Pacific Island countries, whereas exports are around $200 million and imports are around $100 million