The Indian Naval Ship Kadmatt has arrived in Suva on an important three-day goodwill visit, marking a new chapter in the growing defence partnership and people-to-people ties between India and Fiji.
Commander Kutuhal Limaye, Commanding Officer of INS Kadmatt, called on Mr Mason Smith, Permanent Secretary for Fiji’s Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, today. He was accompanied by Captain Rohit Raymond Kattoju, India’s Defence Adviser to Fiji. The two sides discussed collaboration in maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and capacity development.
Highlighting the significance of the visit, Commander Limaye said his crew of over 200 personnel had “travelled across two oceans, crossed three straits, sailed through four seas, and traversed five time zones to be here.” He noted that the mission comes within a month of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to India, underscoring the commitment of both governments to deepen bilateral ties.
The visit features a full programme of public, cultural, and professional exchanges. This afternoon, INS Kadmatt will be open to the public from 2pm to 6pm, giving Fijians a rare opportunity to tour one of India’s advanced warships. Later in the evening, a free joint concert by the Indian Navy Band and the Republic of Fiji Navy Band will be staged at Ratu Sukuna Park.
Tomorrow, government ministers and dignitaries will be hosted aboard the vessel, while on Wednesday the ship’s medical team, in partnership with Fijian doctors, will conduct free public health screenings at Albert Park. Indian and Fijian naval personnel will also participate in joint training sessions on bridge resource management, search and rescue procedures, and damage control, alongside cultural and sporting exchanges, including cricket and volleyball matches.
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Suneet Mehta said the visit reflects the shared vision of Prime Minister Rabuka and India’s leadership to strengthen defence and community-level cooperation.
Commissioned under India’s Project-28, INS Kadmatt is an indigenously built anti-submarine warfare corvette equipped with state-of-the-art stealth technology, weapons, and sensors. The ship plays a vital role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and regularly participates in regional security missions across the Indo-Pacific.
Commander Limaye said the aim of the visit was clear: “to build bridges of friendship through professional exchanges with the Fiji Navy and wider community engagement.”
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