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India's Minister Praises Indian Community in Papua New Guinea During Independence Visit
ndia’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, met with the Indian community in **Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Tuesday during his official visit. He described them as a “living bridge” between the two countries, praising their role in building stronger ties through culture, business, and community work.
Sharing his thoughts on social media platform X, Margherita wrote:
> “A heartwarming evening with our vibrant Indian family in Papua New Guinea. Over 4,000 strong, they are a living bridge between India and PNG.”
Margherita arrived in Port Moresbyon Monday to represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at events marking PNG’s **50th Independence Day**. During the trip, he met with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, bringing greetings from PM Modi and the people of India.
> “Honoured to call on PM James Marape. Conveyed warm greetings from PM Modi on the occasion of #PNGAt50. Both countries are committed to deepening bilateral and people-to-people ties,” Margherita posted.
While in PNG, the minister is expected to hold meetings with political leaders to discuss how to further strengthen cooperation between the two nations.
The visit continues the momentum from PM Modi’s historic trip to Papua New Guinea in May 2023, when he co-hosted the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) with PM Marape. That summit marked a turning point in India’s engagement with Pacific Island countries.
**FIPIC**, started in 2014, includes India and **14 Pacific Island Nations**, such as **Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. The partnership focuses on development, climate resilience, and improving regional ties.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Margherita’s visit aims to build on the progress made during the FIPIC Summit by deepening partnerships in development, trade, and defence cooperation.
India sees its relationship with Pacific Island countries, including PNG, as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties across the Indo-Pacific region — not just through governments, but through people-to-people connections too.
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