Prime Minister Rabuka Champions Rural Development and Poverty Eradication through Strategic Projects

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, accompanied by Fiji’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Robert Lee, today concluded a two-day visit to the Northern Division.

The visit aimed to assess progress on the proposed road upgrades under the Vanua Levu Road Upgrade Project, a transformative initiative supported by a grant from the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

With an estimated budget of FJD $300 million, the Vanua Levu Road Upgrade Project is poised to become a flagship effort under the BRI in Fiji.

During his visit, Prime Minister Rabuka emphasized that the project embodies the Coalition Government’s commitment to fostering rural development, reducing poverty, and achieving inclusive national growth.

“Vanua Levu stands as a beacon of inclusive development, reflecting our resolve to ensure balanced progress across all regions of Fiji. This road upgrade is more than infrastructure—it’s about creating pathways to prosperity. It represents an opportunity to improve rural livelihoods and transform connectivity into tangible benefits for our people.”

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to uplifting the most disadvantaged Fijians through the “Targeted Poverty Alleviation Programme: One Village at a Time.” Adding that significant change requires time and collective action to eradicate poverty in Fiji.

During the tour, the Prime Minister inspected several key segments of the project, including:

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬;

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 – 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢 – 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞 (𝟑𝟐 𝐤𝐦)

Later in Savusavu, the Prime Minister Rabuka met with senior civil servants, thanking them for their dedication and encouraging proactive efforts to enhance public services.

The Head of Government urged them to identify areas needing improvement in sectors such as education, public works, and healthcare.

“Your role is pivotal in creating actionable reports and proposals that will drive meaningful change. Together, we can build a Fiji that serves every citizen equitably,” he said.