Fiji–India relations
Fiji–India relations are the foreign relations between Fiji and India. Fiji has a high commission in New Delhi, whilst India has a high commission in Suva. There are strong cultural links between the countries as 38 percent of Fiji's population is of Indian descent. India has used its influence in international forums such as the Commonwealth of Nations and United Nations on behalf of ethnic Indians in Fiji, lobbying for sanctions against Fiji in the wake of the 1987 coups and the 2000 coup, both of which removed the incumbent governments. In the first case the government was dominated by Indo-Fijians while in the second case it was led by Indo-Fijians. History On 15 August 2005, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said that the Government of India had loaned F$86 million for the upgrading of Fiji's sugar mills, which would be completed in time for the 2007-2008 crushing season. This was to enable Fiji to diversify its sugar industry into bio-fuels. Indian High Commissioner Ajay Singh said that his country had also offered technical expertise with the restructuring of the industry. He was speaking at the India National Day celebrations in Suva. Following the military coup of 5 December 2006, the