India, Fiji ink three bilateral pacts to boost ties

India and Fiji on Wednesday signed three agreements to boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

The agreements signed included one on the extension of the validity of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on development cooperation, which was signed by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Ratu Inoke, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Fiji.

The agreement extends the terms of the MoU signed on October 26, 2006 for Development Cooperation in political, economic and social sectors for mutual benefit.

The two sides also signed a MoU on cooperation in the field of water resources management. The MoU, which was signed by Water Resources Secretary Alok Rawat and High Commissioner of Fiji to India Yogesh J. Karan, aims at enhancing the existing friendly relations between the two countries through the cooperation in the field of water resources development and management.

The two nations signed a MoU on standardisation and conformity assessment. The MoU, which was signed by Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards Sunil Soni and Fiji High Commissioner Karan, aims to facilitate closer cooperation and provide a mechanism by which two countries can work together towards the common aim of strengthening standardization, and conformity assessment activities and facilitate sharing of expertise and mutual trade.