BharatNotes What is FIPIC (Pacific Islands)?
The Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) is a multilateral platform launched by India in November 2014 to institutionalise engagement with 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs). It was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Suva, Fiji (19 November 2014), where he co-hosted the first FIPIC Summit with the region's leaders. FIPIC sits within India's Act East Policy and its wider Indo-Pacific and SAGAR ("Security and Growth for All in the Region") framework, signalling that India's eastward outreach extends well beyond Southeast Asia into the South Pacific.
Member Countries
FIPIC brings together India and 14 Pacific Island Countries:
| Region cluster | Member countries |
|---|---|
| Melanesia | Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu |
| Micronesia | Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau |
| Polynesia | Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu |
These are small, geographically dispersed island states, several of which are among the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, giving climate diplomacy a central place in the partnership.
The Three Summits
- FIPIC I — Suva, Fiji (19 November 2014). India announced a special climate-change/clean-energy fund, a Pan-Pacific Islands e-network for digital connectivity, visa-on-arrival at Indian airports for all 14 countries, and cooperation in space-technology applications.
- FIPIC II — Jaipur, Rajasthan (21–22 August 2015), the first time the summit was hosted in India.
- FIPIC III — Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (22 May 2023), co-hosted by PM Modi and PNG Prime Minister James Marape.
FIPIC III: The 12-Step Action Plan (2023)
At FIPIC III, India unveiled a 12-step action plan to deepen development partnership with the PICs. Verified components include: a 100-bed regional super-speciality hospital in Fiji; a Regional IT and Cyber Security Training Hub in Papua New Guinea; Sagar Amrut Scholarships (100 scholarships over five years); a Jaipur Foot camp; the FIPIC SME Development Project; solar projects for government buildings; sea-water desalination units; sea ambulances; dialysis units; a 24x7 emergency helpline; Jan Aushadhi Kendras (affordable generic-medicine outlets); and Yoga centres.
Strategic Significance
FIPIC reflects three converging Indian priorities. First, development partnership and South–South cooperation through capacity-building, health and renewable-energy projects. Second, climate diplomacy, since PICs are existential stakeholders in global climate negotiations and natural partners for India's coalitions such as the International Solar Alliance. Third, geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific — the Pacific has become an arena of intensifying strategic competition, and FIPIC offers India a structured channel of influence and goodwill in a region where larger powers, notably China, are increasingly active.
UPSC Angle
For aspirants, the high-value recall points are the launch year (2014), the three summit venues, the count of 14 member countries, and the linkage to the Act East Policy and SAGAR. In Mains answers on India's Indo-Pacific strategy, neighbourhood-plus diplomacy, or climate leadership, FIPIC is a crisp, current example of India projecting itself as a credible development and security partner to small island states.
