Media Releases
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fiji
Fiji-France Cooperation Unfolds new Development Initiatives
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| Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, Immigration and Sugar Industry and Acting Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yogesh Karan at a meeting with the French Ambassador to Fiji, Jean-François Fitou |
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New areas of partnership will emerge through the enhanced bilateral engagements between Fiji and France. This has been conveyed in a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday between Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, Immigration and Sugar Industry and Acting Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Yogesh Karan and French Ambassador to Fiji, Jean-François Fitou.
The meeting enabled discussions on new collaboration opportunities between the two nations to advance their mutual interests and development priorities.
PS Karan acknowledged France for its longstanding partnership and support that has positively contributed towards Fiji’s national development. He reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to strengthen the potential areas of cooperation with Fiji’s development partners, with solidarity being at the heart of the regional and national recovery strategies.
Ambassador Fitou commended the exemplary leadership of the Hon. Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama for the swift actions taken by the Fijian government to contain COVID19. He said in recognition of the Fijian Government’s remarkable efforts, the French Embassy is determined to support Fiji through the new initiatives to reachout to Fijian communities.
He also thanked PS Karan for the robust discussions on the prospects for improved economic and investment opportunities through the Fiji-France cooperation.
Ambassador Fitou said that in line with the National France Day to be commemorated next month on 14th July, the French Embassy in Fiji is planning to organise the women’s expo program in partnership with Women in Business (Fiji) and other sponsors, where women market vendors will be able to sell their products and earn income for their families. He said this program aspires to assist the many women market vendors who have been affected by the economic downturn incurred as a result of COVID19.
He said the French Embassy is also working on assisting the Fiji Sugar Corporation, and details of the assistance will be made known later. Ambassador Fitou said that progressive consultations are currently underway to have fully French Language Training Program for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff and few other ministries that are keen on taking this initiative on board.
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Several members of Public Accounts Committee of the Fijian Parliament visiting Wellington this week took advantage of a visit to the Wellington City Council’s Southern Landfill yesterday to glean a few ideas for waste management in Fiji. This included the Hon. Alexander O’Connor, Assistant Minister for Health, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Opposition parliamentarian and Ms. Priya Chand, Parliamentary Secretary who were accompanied by the Fiji High Commission New Zealand staff.
The Southern landfill is an impressive setup particularly as it focuses on recycling and minimising the damage to the environment at the landfill.
Other remarkable features of the landfill were its gas collection, electricity regeneration, green waste mulching and water table management. The Hon. O’Connor, an engineer by profession, was particularly impressed and intends to develop a few ideas for the Fijian Government to consider.
The PAC members were invited to attend the Pacific PAC training seminar in Wellington facilitated by UNDP from the 12th to the 13th December.
The PAC members, including Deputy Chair, Hon. Mohammed Dean, MP, were hosted to afternoon tea at the Fiji Chancery. It was an opportunity for the Parliamentarians to meet the Locally Engaged Staff at the Mission and also update the staff on the work and concerns of the Public A
