India today announced to extend visa on arrival to the nationals of all the pacific island countries including Fiji. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on day-long visit to Fiji. He also announced several measures to strengthen the ties with Fiji including a fund of five million dollar to promote small business and village enterprises in Fiji and a 70 million dollar line of credit for a co-generation power plant.

During his bilateral talks with his Fijian counterpart Josiah Bainimarma and the leaders of the Pacific Island countries, Mr Modi said India has also decided to increase the annual grant to the Pacific island nations from 1.25 lakh to two lakh dollars. The Pacific countries whose leaders interacted with the Prime Minister are Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Addressing Fijian Parliament Mr Modi said India will set up a centre of excellence in information technology in Fiji. He said, India is prepared to work with Fiji to make it a digital country and equip its youth to integrate Fiji into the global IT network. Observing that India have not paid enough attention to Fiji, the land of warm people and immense potential, the Prime Minister said, this must change and travel must be made easier between the two countries.

On shared stakes in a peaceful, cooperative and prosperous Asia and Pacific regions, the Prime Minister said this is a region of enormous dynamism and opportunities, but also faced with numerous challenges. Noting that Fiji is a leader in the region and a strong voice in the developing world, he said both India and Fiji can work for a better future in the region, ensuring an equal place for all nations and a climate of peace and tranquility.