India on Sunday said it sent five metric tonnes of Black-eyed Cowpea Seeds to Fiji to assist the country in boosting its agricultural production as a part of its solidarity shown to Indo-Pacific partners.

Sharing details, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X: " Standing in solidarity with our partners in the Indo-Pacific."

He further said: "As part of its ‘Act East Policy’, India sends humanitarian assistance of 5 MT Black-eyed Cowpea Seeds to our Pacific partner Fiji to support agricultural production."

He said the first tranche of seeds departed from India to Fiji on Sunday.

India’s links with Fiji commenced in 1879 when Indian laborers were brought here under indenture system to work on sugar-cane plantations. Between 1879 and 1916 around 60,553 Indians were brought to Fiji. Beginning with early 20th century, Indian traders and others also started arriving in Fiji. In 1920, the indenture system was abolished.

Prior to Fiji’s independence in 1970, India had a post of Commissioner since 1948 to look after the interests of people of Indian origin. It was later upgraded to High Commissioner after Fiji’s independence in 1970.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara visited India in 1971 and Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited Fiji in September 1981.

"India-Fiji relations are based on mutual respect, cooperation and strong cultural and people to people ties. The bilateral relationship received a major boost after the visit of Prime Minister of India to Fiji in November 2014, when the First Meeting of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Co-operation (FIPIC) was also held," read the Indian Embassy to Fiji.

Over the years, as a major development partner of Fiji, India has been privileged to support Fiji in its nation-building efforts across key sectors and also in the area of capacity building.