imported>PrimeBOT: /* top */Task 30, removal of a template duplicated in an infobox, per this discussion

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top: Task 30, removal of a template duplicated in an infobox, per this discussion

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	~~{{Short description\|1=Diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of Tonga}}~~
	{{Infobox bilateral relations\|India–Tonga\|India\|Tonga}}		{{Infobox bilateral relations\|India–Tonga\|India\|Tonga}}

>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 18 templates: hyphenate params (8×);

2021-01-14T17:13:53Z

Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 18 templates: hyphenate params (8×);

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{{Short description|1=Diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of Tonga}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations|India–Tonga|India|Tonga}}

'''India–Tonga relations''' refers to the [[international relations]] that exist between [[India]] and [[Tonga]]. The High Commission of India in [[Suva]], [[Fiji]] is concurrently accredited to Tonga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.looptonga.com/tonga-news/high-commissioner-india-tonga-presents-credentials-his-majesty-52084|title=High Commissioner of India to Tonga presents credentials to His Majesty {{!}} Loop Tonga|website=www.looptonga.com|date=10 February 2017|language=en|access-date=2017-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net/?p=5639|title=High Commissioner of India to Tonga yesterday presented his credential to His Majesty – TBC|website=www.tonga-broadcasting.net|language=en-NZ|access-date=2017-04-15}}</ref>

== History ==
[[King Tupou IV]] and the Queen made state visits to India in 1971 and 1976.<ref name="MEA2016" /> Indian High Commissioner to Fiji [[T. P. Sreenivasan|T.P. Sreenivasan]] spoke with King Topou IV after the credentials presentation ceremony. According to Sreenivasan, Tupou IV was well-informed of world affairs and asked several questions about developments in India and [[South Asia]]. Sreenivasan also noted that the King "had very good memories about his visit to India and was full of praise for [[Air India]] because the airline gave him two seats for the price of one, whenever he flew with them."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sreenivasan|first1=T.P.|title=The King of Tonga|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/16tps.htm|website=Rediff|access-date=15 April 2017|date=16 March 2005}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] visited Tonga in 1981.<ref name="MEA2016" />

The [[Prime Minister of Tonga|Tongan Prime Minister]] and Foreign Minister visited India in May 2002 and held discussions with the [[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]], [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Foreign Minister]] and [[Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare|Agriculture Minister]]. The Indian Foreign Minister's Special Envoy on UN reforms visited Tonga in August 2005. [[INS Tabar]] visited the country in July 2006, and held a reception on board which was attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, diplomatic corps, senior officers, local Tongans and members of the Indian community. The CO of INS Tabar and DA in [[Canberra|Canberra, Australia]] also met with the Crown Prince. Minister of State for External Affairs led an Indian delegation to attend the Post Forum Dialogue Partners’ Meeting in Tonga in October 2007.<ref name="MEA2016">{{cite web|title=India – Tonga Relations|url=http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Tonga_15_01_2016.pdf|website=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=15 April 2017|date=January 2016}}</ref>

Shortly after his coronation, [[George Tupou V|King George Tupou V]] made a private visit to India from 11 to 30 September 2009.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

The [[Ambassadors and High Commissioners of India|High Commissioner of India]] in Suva, Fiji represented India at the funeral of King George Tupou V on 27 March 2012.<ref name="MEA2016" />

[[Lok Sabha]] Speaker [[Meira Kumar]], and the Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies of [[Nagaland]] ([[Kiyanilie Peseyie]]) and [[Rajasthan]] ([[Deependra Singh Shekhawat|Dependra Singh Shekhawat]]) visited Tonga in April 2012 to participate in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly Mid-Year Executive Committee Meeting. Kumar inaugurated the Kolomotu’a Solar Project on 19 April.<ref name="MEA2016" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Pavneet|title=India's Year Book, 1e: A Refresher|year=2014|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=9789332541979|page=115|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqnsBAAAQBAJ|access-date=15 April 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Tonga is a member of the [[Pacific Islands Forum]], of which India is an official dialogue partner. [[Bilateralism|Bilateral relations]] received a boost following the initiation of the Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation by the [[Narendra Modi]] government in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Second Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit held in Jaipur|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/second-forum-for-indiapacific-islands-cooperation-fipic-summit-held-in-jaipur-1440570425-1|website=Jagran Josh|access-date=16 April 2017|date=26 January 2015}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō|Lord Tu’ivakano]] led the Tongan delegation to attend the India-Forum for Pacific Island Countries (FIPIC) Summit, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Suva on 19 November 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pratibha|first1=Jyoti|title=Samoa PM Coming Here|url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2014/11/17/samoa-pm-coming-here/|website=Fiji Sun|access-date=17 April 2017|location=Suva|date=17 November 2014}}</ref> At the summit, Modi announced numerous steps that India would take to improve relations with Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, such as easing [[Visa policy of India|visa policies]], increase in [[grant-in-aid]] to Pacific Island Countries to $200,000 each annually, and several measures to boost [[bilateral trade]] and aid in the development of the Pacific Island countries.<ref name="MEA2016" /> On 11 November 2014, ''The Tonga Herald'' published an article listing five reasons why it believed that Prime Minister Modi should visit Tonga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tongaherald.com/prime-minister-modi-should-have-a-stopover-in-tonga/|title=Prime Minister Modi should have a stopover in Tonga {{!}} The Tonga Herald|website=tongaherald.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326153447/http://tongaherald.com/prime-minister-modi-should-have-a-stopover-in-tonga/|archive-date=2017-03-26|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/690310/five-reasons-why-modi-must-visit-the-kingdom-of-tonga|title=Five reasons why Modi must visit the Kingdom of Tonga|author=Scroll Staff|work=Scroll.in|access-date=2017-04-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

The High Commissioner of India in Suva represented India at the coronation of King Topou VI on 4 July 2015. Semisi Fakahau, Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests & Fisheries, led a Tongan delegation to participate in the 2nd India-Forum for Pacific Island Countries (FIPIC) Summit held in [[Jaipur]] on 21 August 2015.<ref name="MEA2016" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmo.gov.to/tonga-represented-at-2nd-summit-of-the-forum-of-india-pacific-islands-co-operation/|title=Prime Minister's Office {{!}} Tonga – The Official website of the Government of Tonga » "TONGA REPRESENTED AT 2ND SUMMIT OF THE FORUM OF INDIA-PACIFIC ISLANDS CO-OPERATION."|website=www.pmo.gov.to|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509113647/http://www.pmo.gov.to/tonga-represented-at-2nd-summit-of-the-forum-of-india-pacific-islands-co-operation/|archive-date=2017-05-09|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmo.gov.to/outcome-of-the-second-summit-of-the-forum-for-india-pacific-islands-cooperation-fipic/|title=Prime Minister's Office {{!}} Tonga – The Official website of the Government of Tonga » "OUTCOME OF THE SECOND SUMMIT OF THE FORUM FOR INDIA-PACIFIC ISLANDS COOPERATION (FIPIC)."|website=www.pmo.gov.to|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507042009/http://www.pmo.gov.to/outcome-of-the-second-summit-of-the-forum-for-india-pacific-islands-cooperation-fipic/|archive-date=2017-05-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Trade ==
Bilateral trade between India and Tonga totaled US$1.12 million in 2015–16, growing by 83.05% over the previous fiscal. India did not make any imports from Tonga in 2015–16, and the entire value of trade represents Indian exports to the country. India imported $100,000 worth of plastics and plastic articles from Tonga in the 2014-15 financial year. The main [[Commodity|commodities]] exported by India to Tonga are preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk, pastry products, plastic and plastic articles, pharmaceuticals, and sugar and confectionery.<ref>{{cite web|title=Total Trade|url=http://commerce.gov.in/EIDB.aspx|website=Department of Commerce|access-date=15 April 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Anwar Shaikh, the former principal of the Poona College of Arts, Science and Commerce, founded the Commonwealth Vocational University (CVU) in Tonga. The University was inaugurated on 6 February 2016 by the Tongan Minister of Police Pohiva Tuionetoa and Minister of Health Siosaia Tiukala. Shaikh claims that CVU is the first private university in the country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Ex-principal-launches-varsity-in-Tonga/articleshow/50940335.cms|title=Ex-principal launches varsity in Tonga - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-04-15}}</ref>

==Foreign aid==
Many Tongans, including members of the Royal family, regularly receive training in defence and other courses under the [[Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme|Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation]] (ITEC) programme. [[Tuʻipelehake|Prince Tu'ipelehake]] became the first Tongan to attend the [[Indian Military Academy]] in July 1972. Many Indian experts have been deputed to Tonga to assist in various areas of the country's development.<ref name="MEA2016" /> India announced that it would provide a grant-in-aid of US$100,000 annually to each of the 14 Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, at the Post Forum Dialogue partner meeting in 2006.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDg9oAkwsXAC|title=Asia in the Pacific Islands: Replacing the West|date=2007|publisher=The University of the South Pacific|isbn=9789820203884|page=275|language=en|last1=Crocombe|first1=R. G.|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> The amount was increased to US$125,000 annually from 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Tuvalu_2015_07_07.pdf|title=India-Tuvalu Relations|date=7 July 2015|website=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>
In 2007, India provided $200,000 grant-aid for the construction of an access road from Wharf to Hunga village, and for the upgrade of the jetty in Hunga. The Indian government provided grant-aid of $300,000 for [[Tsunami warning system|Tsunami Alert System]] in July 2014, $115,000 for an upgrade to the Office of the Public Service Commission ICT Infrastructure in October 2014, and $72,000 for a spectrum monitoring project in September 2015. India donated 1,200 new, full uniform sets to the [[His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)|Tongan military]] on 8 December 2008.<ref name="MEA2016" /> The Indian High Commissioner in Fiji Vishvas Vidu Sapkal donated $600 to the Tonga Breast Cancer Society on 8 February 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://matangitonga.to/2017/02/09/india-hc-supports-tonga-breast-cancer-society|title=India HC supports Tonga Breast Cancer Society|date=2017-02-09|website=Matangi Tonga|access-date=2017-04-15}}</ref>

Citizens of Tonga are eligible for scholarships under the ITEC programme. Tongan Defence Service personnel have received defence training in various training institutions in India. Tongan officials attended a TERI Workshop on Sustainable Development conducted for the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) in Suva in March 2007. Tongan diplomats have also attended the short-term Course for Diplomats of PIC organized by the Foreign Service Institute at [[Nadi|Nadi, Fiji]].<ref name="MEA2016" /> Tongan women have attended the attended the solar electrification course at the [[Barefoot College]], [[Tilonia]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Latu|first1=Josephine|title=Two Tongan grandmothers to train in solar engineering {{!}} Tonga News {{!}} Taimi Media Network|url=http://www.taimionline.com/articles/1921|website=Taimi Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025021025/http://www.taimionline.com/articles/1921|archive-date=25 October 2012|date=1 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gatewayhouse.in/india-tonga-old-friends-new-engagements/|title=India-Tonga: Old friends, new engagements - Gateway House|last=GatewayHouse|date=2012-05-29|work=Gateway House|access-date=2017-04-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Foreign relations of Tonga}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:India Tonga relations}}
[[Category:India–Tonga relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India|Tonga]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Tonga|India]]

India–Tonga relations - Revision history

imported>PrimeBOT: /* top */Task 30, removal of a template duplicated in an infobox, per this discussion

>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 18 templates: hyphenate params (8×);