 India and the Pacific Island countries enjoy a vibrant partnership. Development assistance and capacity building are important components of this partnership. The Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation, FIPIC, is an important platform that brings together India and Pacific Island countries. During its second summit held in Jaipur, Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi announced that India will assist in the establishment of a sustainable coastal and ocean research institute, SCORI, in the Pacific Islands. Excellencies, as I said, you are large ocean states. We look forward to working with you to realise the full potential of our oceans in a sustainable manner. Designed to be a nodal centre of excellence in research and development, SCORI will focus on some of the most pressing regional concerns. This includes understanding impact of climate change and marine ecosystem, marine pollution, coastal vulnerability to sea level rise, sea erosion, cyclone and tsunami. The institute will provide ocean advisory services for the benefit of the people of the Pacific Island countries. SCORI will also help to build the capacity of the region in these critical areas. It will thus contribute to the 2050 strategy for the blue Pacific continent and will help in meeting Sustainable Development Goal, SDG-14, Life Below Water. NCCR, the National Centre for Coastal Research, Genay, and USP, University of South Pacific and Fiji, the premier tertiary institution in the Pacific are the lead partner institutions for this part-breaking initiative. Based in the Suva campus of USP, SCORI will be funded and maintained by Government of India for five years till it is handed over to USP. Scientists from NCCR have already started working with experts in USP to build the capacity of Pacific Island countries in key areas of sustainable coastal and ocean research. Today marks the formal launch of SCORI. This successful launch is a testament to India's strong commitment to partnering with its Pacific friends for the progress, well-being and prosperity of the people of the Pacific region. Coming in the year of India's G20 presidency, this partnership between India and the Pacific shows the way forward in taking care of our world as one earth, one family, one future. Vasudeva Kutumbakam