On June 30, 2025, a four-member delegation led by Pro-Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University (FNU), Dr. Isimeli Tagicakiverata, visited Islamabad, Pakistan. This visit spanned over five days to explore areas of cooperation between both countries in the field of agriculture and emerging technologies. This visit indicates a new chapter in agriculture and Trek III diplomacy for Pakistan.
To boost agricultural collaboration between the Pacific and South Asian states, the National Productivity Organization (NPO) coordinated the visit of the Fijian delegation to prominent research institutes on agriculture and farms located in the province of Punjab. The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Mr. Haroon Akhtar, met with the Fijian delegation. He reflected on Pakistan’s richness in natural resources and minerals. He also elaborated on the vast options available for bilateral cooperation between Islamabad and Suva in the fields of agriculture and related sectors such as sugarcane yield, smart farming, agri-tech, and others. He also discussed the challenges the community is facing in terms of climate change and the resilient measures the country is opting for to combat this dangerous non-traditional security threat.
Pakistan should not treat Fiji merely as a destination but as a gateway to the Oceania region to alleviate and diversify exports of its products.
This visit stands as a hallmark of diplomacy between the two nations due to the involvement of academicians, researchers, and educational institutions. It can establish a strong foundation of bilateral relations based on people-to-people contacts. It will open new avenues of cooperation between both countries, not only in the fields of food security but also in bilateral trade, science and technology, climate diplomacy, and educational and cultural exchanges. Pakistan can also engage the 6 percent Muslim population of Fiji to build strong cultural ties between both nations.
Moreover, Pakistan can seize the opportunity to export its food products to the Fijian market. Considering the sugarcane industry, which is the second-largest industry after textiles, Pakistan can explore ways of exporting it to the Republic of Fiji. The sugarcane production of Pakistan for 2025/26 is projected to be 13.7 percent higher compared to 2024/25, making it a potential sector for export to the Suva market. Apart from this, Fiji also imports pharmaceutical products from regional countries, including India. Pakistan aims to boost its pharmaceutical exports to $5 billion by 2030. Fiji could be a possible future destination for Pakistan to help it achieve this target.
Additionally, Pakistan has been struggling to diversify its export markets lately. Fiji could serve as a gateway for Islamabad to access the markets of the Oceania region. Pakistan’s sugarcane industry can serve as a silver lining in times of changing economic alliances and regional blocs. In 2024, India exported sugar and sugar confectionery worth $105.81 thousand to Fiji, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database. However, this year witnessed a decrease in exports from India due to its involvement in defense activities and agreements. In this regard, Pakistan can export its sugarcane to Fiji to enter the markets of the Oceania region.
Furthermore, as both countries from the Global South grapple with the challenges of climate change, they aim to cooperate in climate diplomacy on the global stage and develop climate resilience mechanisms. In the aftermath of the 2022 floods in Pakistan, then Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama spoke in favor of Islamabad, holding the high-emitting nations most responsible for the devastating floods in Pakistan. Pakistan can make a strong case for climate finance at the global level for developing countries with the help of Fiji and other countries in the region. Moreover, both countries can launch joint ventures for climate-resilient agriculture projects, such as developing expertise in water-efficient irrigation techniques, smart farming, dairy farming, soil health solutions, and the use of AI in the agriculture domain.
To conclude, Pakistan needs to look beyond traditional export destinations amid rising geopolitical tensions around the globe. Diversifying exports to access new markets for its products in the Oceania region is essential. This can also help the country achieve its target of reaching $60 billion in exports by 2027. However, this trip should also see a reciprocal visit by the Pakistani side to Fiji to explore further avenues of cooperation. A subsequent follow-up meeting at the governmental level between both countries can further stimulate cooperation. Hence, Pakistan should not treat Fiji merely as a destination but as a gateway to the Oceania region to alleviate and diversify exports of its products.
The writer is a researcher at the Consortium for Asia-Pacific Studies (CAPS) and can be reached at [email protected].