Fiji’s Cabinet has approved a Declaration of Intent with India to explore the recruitment of skilled workers to support the Pacific nation’s growing labour needs.
Under the new initiative, Indian workers are expected to take up roles in Fiji’s construction industry, healthcare sector, and information technology.
In a statement, the Rabuka government said,
“This partnership will help fill workforce gaps, boost skills, and support Fiji’s growth.”
The announcement builds on deepening bilateral ties between the two nations. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last met in Port Moresby on 22 May 2023, on the sidelines of the 3rd Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit.
This was their first official meeting, where both leaders reviewed progress in key sectors including capacity building, healthcare, climate action, renewable energy, agriculture, education, and information technology.
During the same visit, Prime Minister Modi was conferred Fiji’s highest honour — the Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF) — by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, an award he dedicated to the people of India and the generations of Fiji-Indian community.
Recently, speaking at India’s 79th Independence Day reception in Suva, Prime Minister Rabuka said Fiji and India are moving to strengthen bilateral ties with a focus on human resource development, climate-resilient projects, health and education support, and humanitarian aid. He added,
“It’s a great opportunity for us to renew and reinvigorate our relationship and our friendship, which has been going on for a long time since our independence, or even before our independence.”
PM Rabuka is expected to visit India from August 24-26, 2025, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bureau of Indian Standards and Fiji’s Department of National Trade Measurement and Standards is also set to be signed.
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