New Delhi, April 19: Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margerita, will embark on a four-day visit to the Republic of Vanuatu and Tuvalu starting Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized the importance of this trip in strengthening India’s relations with Pacific island nations. The visit aims to discuss bilateral relations, development, trade, and healthcare issues.
According to the department, Margerita will be in the Oceania island nations from May 22 to 25, 2026. The scheduled itinerary indicates that the minister will stay in Vanuatu from April 22 to 23, where he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the country’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. He will also visit the Center of Excellence in Information Technology, established with the support of the Indian government.
Following Vanuatu, the minister’s next stop will be Tuvalu, where he will arrive on April 24. He will spend two days there as well, engaging in bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and other top leaders. Additionally, he will review ongoing projects under India’s Grant-in-Aid program.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Margerita’s visit to Vanuatu and Tuvalu reflects India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Pacific island nations. This trip continues the momentum from the third summit of the India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Forum (FIPIC) held in Port Moresby in May 2023, reinforcing India’s ‘Act East’ policy.
Launched in 2014, FIPIC includes India and 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs), namely Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
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