Potential in boosting ties with Pacific Islands: Goyal

India's Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that boosting ties with Pacific Island countries could provide co-operation opportunities in sectors like fisheries, tourism, agriculture, IT, healthcare and energy.

In his address at a business interaction of heads of state and governments of Pacific Island nations organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he said that the Pacific Islands have come to form a key part of the government's Act East Policy.

"It occupies a strategic position in terms of global commerce located in the middle of some of the busiest sea lanes in the world," he added.

In addition, Goyal said that that India's Look East Policy matches well with the Look North Policy of the Pacific Island countries. "With the Look North Policy now being extended all the way to India, there is much scope to promote bilateral cooperation with the economies in the Pacific Island region," he added.

CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee, who was also present during the meet, said bilateral trade between India and this region was very low and needed to be stepped up. He called for greater B2B cooperation between the Pacific Island countries and India.