Forum Welcomes India Assistance
PRESS STATEMENT
78/06
Friday 27th October 2006
The Government of India today announced grant aid to Forum Island Countries (FICs) worth US$1.4 million, alongside various capacity building training schemes.
Shri E. Ahamed, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, made the announcement at the 18th Post Forum Dialogue Partners' Meeting held today in Nadi, Fiji.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Mr Greg Urwin, said India's commitment to the economic and social development of the region was greatly appreciated.
"We particularly welcome India's assurance to align its development assistance to the region with priorities identified by Leaders in the Pacific Plan," Mr Urwin said.
Regional assistance initiatives announced by the Government of India include:
- Grant aid of US$100,000 each for 14 FICs for the supply of equipment and materials for social and economic programmes, and for sustainable development initiatives;
- A 'Workshop on Sustainable Development' for officials of FICs organised by the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), to be held in Suva;
- A training course for diplomats of FICs in the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi;
- A course on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) promotion in developing countries for officials of FICs at the National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training in Hyderabad, India; and
- A grant of one scholarship for each FIC for undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
FICs include the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
(Ends)
78/06
Friday 27th October 2006
The Government of India today announced grant aid to Forum Island Countries (FICs) worth US$1.4 million, alongside various capacity building training schemes.
Shri E. Ahamed, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, made the announcement at the 18th Post Forum Dialogue Partners' Meeting held today in Nadi, Fiji.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Mr Greg Urwin, said India's commitment to the economic and social development of the region was greatly appreciated.
"We particularly welcome India's assurance to align its development assistance to the region with priorities identified by Leaders in the Pacific Plan," Mr Urwin said.
Regional assistance initiatives announced by the Government of India include:
- Grant aid of US$100,000 each for 14 FICs for the supply of equipment and materials for social and economic programmes, and for sustainable development initiatives;
- A 'Workshop on Sustainable Development' for officials of FICs organised by the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), to be held in Suva;
- A training course for diplomats of FICs in the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi;
- A course on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) promotion in developing countries for officials of FICs at the National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training in Hyderabad, India; and
- A grant of one scholarship for each FIC for undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
FICs include the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
(Ends)
