Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, Hon. Esrom Immanuel, is currently in India as part of the Coalition Government’s efforts to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest and deepen the longstanding relationship between the two nations.
During the visit, Hon. Immanuel met with India’s Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita. Both leaders acknowledged the deep historical bonds shared by Fiji and India and agreed on the importance of further strengthening this enduring partnership. Hon. Margherita reaffirmed India’s readiness to support Fiji in key sectors including healthcare, e-governance and digitisation, agricultural development, cultural exchanges, education and skills training, trade, and expanding people-to-people connections.
The Minister also held a series of productive meetings with senior Indian officials and institutional leaders. These included the CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Sh. Bhuvnesh Kumar; the Chairman and Managing Director of the National Small Industries Corporation of India, Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya; the Controller General of Accounts at India’s Ministry of Finance, Ms. T.C.A. Kalyani; and a delegation from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration to support Fiji’s digital transformation and drive economic development.
Healthcare cooperation was another key priority. Minister Immanuel met with executives from Apollo Hospitals in Delhi to explore potential partnerships that could expand access to tertiary healthcare services for Fijians.
Later today, the Minister will officiate at the MIOT 27th Founder’s Day celebration in Chennai. Fiji and India share a long history in healthcare, with thousands of Fijians travelling to India for specialised medical treatment. With MIOT already expanding its presence in Fiji through the management of cardiac care at Lautoka Hospital in partnership with Aspen, Fiji is now seeking even closer collaboration with Indian private healthcare providers to help transform health service delivery.
The Fiji–India partnership is grounded not only in a rich shared history, but also in common values of democracy, freedom, mutual respect, and social justice — principles that continue to guide and strengthen relations between the two countries.