Fiji celebrated ITEC Day 2025 with the High Commission of India and members of the diplomatic community at the Novotel Convention Centre in Lami, marking over six decades of collaboration and friendship between the two nations. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka, praised India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, recognized as one of the world’s most effective models of international cooperation.
Since its inception in 1964, the ITEC programme has successfully trained over 200,000 professionals from more than 160 countries, including upwards of 800 Fijians in essential sectors such as civil service, defense, health, education, and technology. Gavoka highlighted that these trained individuals return to Fiji equipped with critical skills, significantly enhancing governance and public service for the people.
Referencing Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to India in August 2025, Gavoka underscored the strengthening ties between Fiji and India, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, renewable energy, and education. A noteworthy highlight of this bilateral partnership is the construction of a 100-bed Super Specialty Hospital in Suva, which represents India’s largest grant-aid project in the Pacific and signifies its commitment to Fiji’s development.
Gavoka articulated that “ITEC is not merely about technical training; it represents a bridge of friendship and progress,” expressing gratitude for India’s ongoing support and shared vision of sustainable development for Fiji.
The celebration echoes previous discussions emphasizing the solid diplomatic engagement between Fiji and India as both continue to explore avenues for cooperation, including infrastructure development and cultural exchanges, with an outlook centered on mutual growth and benefit. The commitment to collaboration not only augurs well for Fiji’s development agenda but also strengthens the cultural and historical ties that bind the two nations, fostering a hopeful vision for their future interactions.
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