The President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization Dr. Asif Iqbal had a fruitful meeting with the Hon.Consul of Vanuatu Hon James E. Harris in Dubai offices of the Vanuatu Trade Mission. Hon James is also the strategic advisor in the Middle East for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CEWIC). The islands gained independence under the name Republic of Vanuatu, which means “our land forever” in Melanesian languages. Vanuatu joined the Commonwealth in 1980 after it gained independence from Britain and France.
India and Vanuatu maintain diplomatic relations characterized by goodwill and cooperation, with India providing developmental assistance to Vanuatu in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
As part of the Government of India’s Regional Assistance Initiatives for Pacific Island countries, India offers annual grant-in-aid for development projects in Vanuatu. Following “Cyclone Pam” in March 2015, India gave a grant of US$ 250,000 as a humanitarian assistance.India gave a grant of US$ 200,000 for the resettlement process of Ambae islands after eruption of volcano in June 2018. The amount was handed over to the Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
India is doing solar electrification of 200 houses in Vanuatu. Refresher training for 43 ‘Solar Mamas’ from seven Pacific Island Countries was completed successfully in Fiji, as a part of US$ 1.5 mn GOI project of ‘solar electrification of 2800 houses in 14 PICs’. Four Vanuatu solar mamas had been trained in India at Barefoot College, Rajasthan.
During the meeting, it was decided to strengthen the partnership of Indian companies in the UAE for investing in Vanuatu, which has a commonwealth relationship with India.
The India Commonwealth Trade Council, headed by Dr. Asif Iqbal also proposed various measures to conduct quarterly meetings in Dubai on the Commonwealth platform.
The offices of Hon.James Harris are preparing for the upcoming visit of the Deputy Chairman of the CWEIC Lord Hugo Swire to the UAE on February 23rd, during which he will participate with various Emirati entities to strengthen the vision and mission of CWEIC.
Download the file of India Vanuatu relations by the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India