Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Education, led a delegation to the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) on 19-20 October 2023. This was the first Ministerial level visit from India to the Marshall Islands in the last five years.
MoS paid a courtesy call on Iroij Jimata Kabua, Chairman of the Council of Iroij (Council of traditional chiefs/elders). He called on Wilbur Heine, Acting President of the Marshall Islands, who was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers, including Foreign Affairs and Trade, Culture & Internal Affairs, Transportation, Communication & Information Technology, Justice, Immigration & Labour, and Works, Infrastructure & Utilities. MoS held bilateral discussions with Jack Ading, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, during which both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including development partnership.
MoS met Kudo Kabua, Mayor of Wotho Atoll, where a community development project, the Women’s Clam and Coral Farm Project, is being implemented under grant-in-aid. He visited the Alele Museum and Public Library which serves as the national archives of RMI. MoS also participated in a Yoga Session with local yoga enthusiasts.
India has undertaken twelve development projects so far in RMI in areas such as solar energy, communication equipment, export strategy, disaster relief, community development, water and sanitation. India and the RMI are working together in various areas of mutual interest such as climate change, environment conservation, health and education, capacity building including through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) courses. RMI is also a member of the International Solar Alliance.
Relations between India and the Republic of Marshall Islands have expanded over the years both bilaterally and under the aegis of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).