India-Kiribati Bilateral Relations

Background

The concurrent accreditation of Kiribati was transferred to High Commission of India, Suva in October 2011. Prior to that High Commission in Wellington was concurrently accredited to Kiribati from September 1992.

High-Level Exchanges

FIPIC:The Forum for India-Pacific Island Countries was inaugurated on 19 November 2014 at Suva. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India also hosted the First Summit of the Forum in Suva (Fiji) during his historic visit to Fiji on 19 November 2014. The Forum saw participation of 14 Pacific Island Countries.Kiribati delegation was led by President Hon. Anote Tong, attended the Summit.

FIPIC-II: As a follow-up of the historic first FIPIC Summit in 2014, India organized the second FIPIC at Jaipur on 21 August 2015, which was hosted by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Building upon the success of the first FIPIC, India announced major initiatives to boost cooperation with the 14 Pacific Island countries. Kiribati delegation led by Mr. Teekoa luta, Advisor on Asia, attended the Forum.

FIPIC-III: 3rd FIPIC Summit was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinew on 22 May 2023, which was hosted by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PNG Prime Minister, James Marape. Kiribati delegation led by President, Hon. Taneti Maamau attended the Summit.

India - PIC FMM: On 24 September 2025, India hosted the FIPIC Foreign Ministers Meeting on the sidelines of the High Level Week (HLW) of 80th UNGA in New York. Kiribati delegation led by Kiribati Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon’ble Bootii Nauan attended the meeting.

Interaction with PSIDS at New York: On 24 September 2019, on the sidelines of the UNGA, Prime Minister of India Hon. Narendra Modi held an interaction, first of its kind, with the leaders of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS).

India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IPISDC): Government of India organized the India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IPISDC) at Suva, Fiji on 25-26 May 2017. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Dr.) V. K. Singh (Retd.) hosted the event, in which Mr. Tekena Tiroa, Member of Parliament , Kiribati led the delegation.

Voice of the South Summit (VOSS): On 12 January 2023, Minister for Environment, Lands, and Agricultural Development of the Government of Republic of Kiribati, Hon. Ruateki Tekaiara participated in the Environment Ministers’ Session of the VoSS held virtually.

Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS 2.0): On 17 November 2023, Minister for Environment, Lands, and Agricultural Development of the Government of Republic of Kiribati, Hon. Ruateki Tekaiara participated in the Environment Ministers’ Session of the VoSS hosted virtually by Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India Shri Bhupender Yadav. The theme for the session was balancing growth-environment friendly lifestyle.

International Solar Alliance: Kiribati is one of the Founding Members of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) – a joint initiative of the Governments of India and France to promote solar energy. Hon. Ruateki Tekaiara, Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy visited India to attend the Founding Conference of the ISA in New Delhi on 11 march 2018.

Other Important Visits/Exchanges:

President of Kiribati, Hon. Anote Tong visited New Delhi on 1-3 February 2012 to attend the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit organised by TERI. President Hon. Anote Tong again visited New Delhi on 31 January-2 February 2013 to attend TERI’s Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS).
A Kiribati delegation led by Hon. Teima Onorio, Vice Presidentvisited India in connection with the Second High Level Meeting (HLM) on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific, held in New Delhi on 23-25 October 2013.
A Kiribati delegation led by Hon. Kobebe Taitai, Minister of Health and Medical Services, accompanied by Dr Teatao Tira, Secretary, Ms Ioana Taakau, Chief Pharmacist and Ms Lina Nikuata, Senior Accountant visited India from 25th October to 2nd November 2016 to see medical facilities.
Hon. Ruateki Tekaiara, Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy visited India to attend the 2nd Assembly of International Solar Alliance at New Delhi on 31 October 2019.
Vice President of Kiribati, Mr. Teuea Toatu visited India to attend the first Asian
Development Fund (ADF) 14 Replenishment Meeting from 14 to 16 November, 2023 in New Delhi.
Kiribati Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Mr. Willie Tokataake and his 5 member delegation visited India to attend the 23rd edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) FROM 7-9 February 2024 AT New Delhi under the broad umbrella theme “Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice”.
Kiribati Minister of Environment, Lands, and Agricultural Development (MELAD) Tokaibure Rabaua along with Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Agricultural led a 05 member delegation to India to attend the Kumbh Global Summit on "Development and Sustainability" in Prayagraj from 21 – 23 February 2025.
Mr. Ioane Titaake, Acting Director & Ms. Kiritaake Teannaki, Naval Architect from Ministry of Information, Communications, and Transport participated in the inaugural conference of the Quad Ports of Future Partnership held in Mumbai from 29 – 30 October 2025.
A 03-member Parliamentary delegations from Kiribati participated in the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth (CSPOC) which took place in India from 16 – 19 January 2026. From Kiribati, the delegation was led by Willie Tokataake, Speaker of the Parliament of Kiribati.

Development Partnership Assistance

Government of India provides annual grants for community development projects in Kiribati. In addition, training slots are offered to Kiribati under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme of the Government of India. Diplomats are also offered training at the Foreign Service Institute of India. India gave a grant of US$ 1.1 million to Kiribati on 6 December 2017 for solar lighting of the South Tarawa district. The project benefited the households in the urban district who did not have access to electricity or power and were forced to resort to the use of fossil fuel for their lighting needs.
In April 2024, a 05 member delegation of Yoga trainers went to India for one month training in the ancient discipline of Yoga with the purpose of imparting trainings to other yoga enthusiasts in Kiribati and to help set up of a Yoga Centre in Kiribati as part of the FIPIC III announcement made by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
In February 2025, the Barefoot College team from India conducted solar refresher training for 5 solar mamas in Kiribati. The training covered the installation process of home lighting systems followed by individual practice session.
In July 2025, a team of nephrologist and technicians arrived in Kiribati from India to help support the setting up of 06-bedded dialysis unit in Kiribati. The 06-bedded Haemo-dialysis unit was delivered to Kiribati in March 2025 as part of the announcement made by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during the FIPIC-III summit in Papua New Guinea in 2023. The team also provided hands-on on-site training related to operations of the Haemo-dialysis unit.
The Government of India, through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, is supporting a project in Kiribati titled "Improving Income and Livelihood for Communities on the Outer Islands through Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Production." With an allocation of US$ 900,000, this initiative aims to establish two new VCO processing plants on the islands of Tamana and Nikunau.

Cultural Relations

As part of Namaste Pacifika Festival of India, Odissi Dance Group led by Ms. Meera Das visited and performed in Tarawa in November 2017.
Since its inaugural event in 2015 the International Day of Yoga is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Kiribati every year with participation from high dignitaries, including the Kiribati President and the First Lady. This year also on 17 June 2026, High Commission of India in Suva in collaboration with Kiribati Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports & Social Affairs organized the celebration of 12th International Day of Yoga in Kiribati. More than 70 yoga enthusiasts participated in the event.