Nauru
Bilateral relations with Nauru are cordial and friendly. India’s is a strong development partner, and its assistance is well recognised in Nauru. India first proposed for Nauru’s independence in the UN in early 1960s that was supported by the then USSR. Hence, Nauru has special regard for India. Indian High Commissioner to Australia is concurrently accredited to Nauru since 2 August 2021. Resident Mission of Nauru in India has been established in 2022.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- India provided USD 1 million to support Nauru’s response to COVID-19 under GoI’s assistance through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, which included hospital Waste Management Unit, the first of its kind in the Pacific region, a mobile mortuary unit, six dialysis machines and Covid19 supplies.
- India gifted 10,000 doses of made in India Covishield (AstraZeneca) vaccines to Nauru on 8 April 2021. Following Covid-19 outbreak in 2022, at the request of Government of Nauru, GOI donated 7,000 made in India Covid vaccines on 25 August 2022. Further, at the request of Government of Nauru, GOI donated 8,000 made in India COVOVAX vaccines on 13 April 2023.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- One diplomat from Nauru participated in the 70th Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) course, organized by Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) during 13-31 March 2023. Three diplomats from Nauru also attended 3rd Special Course for Diplomats from Pacific Island Countries at SSIFS during 20 February-3 March 2023.
- Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (MG-CEIT): An MoU for setting up the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (MG-CEIT) was signed on 24 May 2017 during the India Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IP-SDC) at Fiji. MG-CEIT offered training on Office Automation, Data Communication& Networking, Web Technologies. More than 394 Nauruan students have received training at the CEIT.
- In addition, a disability awareness campaign was conducted by Indian doctors in 2017 and four solar women engineers (mamas) from Nauru were trained as part of the solar electrification in the PICs project.
- “Sagar Amrut Scholarships” scheme for the PIC countries was announced during FIPIC-III summit held in May 2023. Under the scheme India is offering a total of 200 fully funded scholarship slots each year to participants from PIC countries.
- Completed Non-Infrastructure Project: In April, 2022 assistance of US$ 1,000,000 was given from I-UNDP Fund to support COVID-19 response.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- India has provided development assistance to Nauru through bilateral Grant-in-Aid programme as well as through India-UN Development Partnership Fund (India-UNDPF). These assistance projects include Construction of Government expatriate employees’ apartment (2010-2011); Grant for Conversion of Menen Hotel Rooms to self-contained units for expatriates; Construction of Sea Wall (2015-16); Procurement of Mahindra vehicle for Nauru Parliament (2017); Uniform for Nauru Police (2017-2018); Provision of 22 Mahindra SUVs (2018-2019).
- At the request of Government of Nauru, the Government of India provided financial assistance of USD 70,000 for opening Nauru’s Resident Mission in New Delhi.
- Annual Grant in Aid of US$200,000
- Assistance through special grants and HADR
- 22 made-in-India SUVs gifted to Nauru for hosting the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit gifted in September 2018.
- US$ 450,175 for construction of a sea-wall which was inaugurated in 2018.
- In June 2020, the project to improve resilience in the Pacific Island Countries (including Nauru) was signed between United Nations Resident Coordinator and Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) to be largely funded by India. Under the scheme Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems will be installed on buildings of national significance. (Total funding: US $ 1 Million)
- In September 2017 Climate Early Warning Systems project in Seven Pacific Countries (including Nauru) was launched under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. (Total funding: US $ 1 Million)
