India will provide LED bulbs and other energy efficient equipment worth USD 2,00,000 (around Rs 1.34 crore) to Pacific island nation Vanuatu as a grant, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has said.
Goyal is on a two-day visit to Vanuatu and leading a thirteen-member Indian delegation.
During the visit, ending October 26, he held talks with Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas and Foreign Affairs Minister of the country Bruno Leingkone Tau. Goyal discussed India-Vanuatu bilateral relations with them, a Power Ministry release said.
Goyal also handed over a cheque of USD 1,90,000 (around Rs 1.27 crore) to Bruno Leingkone Tau as an assistance for providing ICT (informational and communications technology) equipment to 76 schools of Vanuatu.
Vanuatu acknowledged the assistance saying it will contribute to the development of education sector in the island nation, and also welcomed India's commitment for strengthening bilateral ties through this first-ever ministerial visit, the release said.
Further, Goyal announced that LED bulbs and other energy efficient equipment worth USD 2,00,000 will be supplied from India to Vanuatu, it said.
This assistance is under India's annual grant to Vanuatu, which will help it reduce the energy consumption and save millions of dollars of electricity consumption.
It may be mentioned that India-Vanuatu bilateral relations are very friendly and mutually cooperative and getting stronger following two Summits of Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) since November 2014, the statement added.
Vanuatu is in favour of expansion of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and supports India's position for its candidature to permanent membership to the extended UNSC, the release said.
Goyal and Bruno Leingkone Tau signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing India-Vanuatu Centre of Excellence in IT (CEIT).
Further, Vanuatu expressed its desire to join the International Solar Alliance, launched by India and France in November 2015.
Goyal and Joe Natuman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism, Commerce and Industry of Vanuatu addressed and guided the India-Vanuatu Business interaction meeting today, in which seven representatives from Indian public sector companies - NTPC, PGCIL, SECI, CDAC and EESL - participated along with several companies from Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce.
During his visit, Goyal also interacted with Vanuatu Nationals who benefited from various courses under Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC).
He also had the opportunity to interact with Indian nationals and several Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).
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