NEW DELHI — Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka affirmed his nation’s deep and abiding relationship with India, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “great leader” and lauding the significant contributions of the Indian community to Fiji’s economic development.
In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Modi following their bilateral meeting, PM Rabuka described his visit to India as an “immense honor” and expressed his gratitude for the strong, continuing connection between the two countries. The relationship, he noted, was founded in hardship when over 60,000 Indian indentured laborers, known as ‘Girmitiyas,’ were brought to Fiji between 1879 and 1916 to work in sugarcane fields.
PM Rabuka highlighted that these pioneers and their descendants have been instrumental in shaping modern Fiji. “They have helped shape Fiji into what it is today. They are responsible for the current state of Fiji’s economy,” he stated. As a token of recognition for this immense contribution, Fiji has now instituted an annual celebration of ‘Girmitiya Day’ in May.
Rabuka also recalled the recent visits of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi to Fiji, expressing his nation’s fortune in being a part of India’s global initiatives, particularly in solarization and medical research. He expressed a desire to emulate India’s success in poverty alleviation, noting that Fiji shares a similar climate and latitude, which could foster mutual growth.
The visit marks PM Rabuka’s first to India since taking office and is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including his wife, Sulueti Rabuka, and Minister for Health and Medical Services, Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu. Both leaders held wide-ranging discussions at Hyderabad House in Delhi, reinforcing a partnership rooted in mutual respect and strong cultural bonds.
