About

• The Forum for India-Pacific Islands cooperation (FIPIC) is a multinational grouping developed in 2014 for cooperation between India and 14 Pacific Islands nations which include Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 

• FIPIC aims to promote economic cooperation and strategic engagement between India and these countries.
• It also provides a concrete platform for India to engage with Pacific Island Nations on shared concerns like climate change, sustainable development, and maritime security.

Significance of FIPIC

• FIPIC plays a crucial role in India’s diplomatic outreach to the Pacific Island Nations in line with the country’s “Act East Policy”.
• The Pacific Island nations are strategically located in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, which has drawn the attention of major powers like the US and China, among others, due to their potential for trade, military presence, and alliances. 
• Despite their small land area and distance from India, most countries have large exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and offer promising cooperation opportunities. 
  • Of the world’s ten busiest seaports, nine are in this region.