DAKSHIN

Palau

India and Palau share warm and friendly relations. India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations in April 1995, soon after Palau’s independence. Since then, there have been regular interaction and consultation with the political leadership and administrative representatives of Palau. This has seen significant intensification since the initiation of the Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in November 2014. President of Palau, Tommy Remengesau Jr. led their delegation to the 2nd FIPIC in August 2015 in Jaipur while the Health Minister of Palau Gregorio Ngirmang led their delegation at the 1st FIPIC held in Fiji. President Surangel S Whipps, Jr participated in the 3^rd FIPIC summit held on 22 May 2023 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), where he awarded an Ebakl to PM Modi which holds important significance in Palauan society as a symbol of leadership and wisdom

Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic

India through the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York approved a grant of US$ 152,767.50 on 9th April 2020 for “Strengthening national health capabilities to address Covid-19 crisis in Palau” under the South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). In this regard the former Minister of Health Mr. Emais Roberts of Palau issued a letter of Appreciation to GOI on 20th April 2020.
In addition, at the request of Government of Palau for support to their Covid 19 emergency response, the India-UN Fund Board of Directors approved additional funds for the provision of one garbage truck and 14 powered air purifying respirators.

Capacity Building & Other Exchanges

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) has served as the principal mechanism of our technical assistance to Palau.
Since 1996-97, India has been regularly offering training slots to Palau in different areas.
From 2002 to 2017, two training slots were allotted to Palau every year. Since 2018, Palau is allotted 5 training slots under ITEC.
Scholarships for higher education in India are also offered to Palau by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Similarly, two participants from Palau attended the training on Tsunami Preparedness on Early Warning System for Oceanic Disaster and Mitigation organised by INCOIS, Hyderabad from 20-25 November, 2017.
Ms. Jaelene Bsis Kebekol and Ms. Lolanny Tereked Dwight were trained as Solar Mammas at the Barefoot College in Jaipur from September 2018 to March 2019.
Diplomats from Palau have regularly participated in the training programmes organised by Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS). A young Palaun diplomat attended 69^th Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) held at SSIFS, New Delhi from 3-28 October, 2022.
India also organized a Special Diplomats Training Programme for Pacific Countries at the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation meeting held in Fiji in November 2014 and a Special Diplomat's Training Course for the diplomats from the Micronesian countries (Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands) in Palau from 11-15 May 2015, where 6 diplomats from Palau participated.

Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)

India’s developmental partnership with Palau has been expanding over the last few years. India has funded several projects in Palau under the USD 200,000 annual Grant-in-aid. For the year 2016, the Palau Government utilised the annual grant programmes for skill upgradation, mentor leadership, sports, environment conservation under their initiative titled ‘Year of Youth 2016”. Similarly, the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 were declared the ‘Year of Family’, ‘Year of Health’ and ‘Year of Innovative Learning’ for which the annual grants were utilised respectively.
GOI has also provided a financial grant in August 2005 towards purchase of kitchen equipment for Belau National Hospital. In 2008, assistance of US$ 100,000 was given to Palau for purchase of a boat and 2 pick-up trucks for its outreach programme.
In 2010, GOI provided a grant of US$ 100,000 for purchase of computers and related equipment & software.
Another grant-in-aid of US$ 100,000 was given in February 2011 for IT and computer upgradation in their offices and diplomatic missions.
India also provided assistance for disaster relief in the wake of Super-Typhoon Haiyan in March 2014. Further, India also provided Palau with assistance for hosting the 45th Pacific Island Forum (PIF) in July 2014 and organizing PIF meeting (Pacific Media Summit) in 2016.
India has also donated medicines and medical equipment amounting to Rs. 37 Lakhs to Palau in 2023.
India is assisting Palau in upgrading and modernising 3 community healthcare centre under the India-UN Development Fund. India partnered with Palau in establishing facilities and renovating the Palau Civic Hall and the Palau Community College that provided essential institutional support to the 7^th Our Ocean Conference through assistance of $1 million under India-UNDP fund. These facilities are a part of the Palau Global Village Facilities that were handed over to Palau in September 2020.
The 7^th Ocean Conference was held in Palau on 13-14 April, 2022. High School Teacher Training Center project in Koror is under construction at the revised cost of $648,578 under IBSA fund.