Hon. Ditoka receives a courtesy call from the CDA of U.S Embassy
28/01/2026
Hon. Ditoka officiates the establishment of Fiji’s first diplomatic academy
28/01/2026Published On: 28/01/2026
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence conducted a site visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) yesterday (27/1/26) as part of its mandate to undertake parliamentary engagement with government institutions responsible for the formulation and implementation of foreign policy.
The visit followed an in-person submission earlier in the day at the Parliament Complex by senior Ministry officials on the Ministry’s 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 Annual Reports.
The Committee was received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, and the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Dr Raijeli Taga, together with senior officials of the Ministry.
During the visit, the Committee received briefings on the Ministry’s role in advancing Fiji’s national interests through bilateral, regional, and multilateral engagement. Discussions covered Fiji’s diplomatic relations, regional cooperation, participation in international organisations, trade and economic diplomacy, and the provision of consular services to Fijians overseas.
The Committee was also briefed on the Ministry’s performance during recent financial years, including its contribution to national resilience and international cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen regional engagement and partnerships aligned with Fiji’s development priorities.
The site-visit enabled Committee Members to observe daily operations and engage directly with diplomats on their respective areas of responsibilities, providing practical insights into the operational realities of managing bilateral and multilateral relations and demonstrated how the Ministry’s strategic objectives outlined in the Annual Reports are being implemented.
The Standing Committee expressed its appreciation to the Ministry for the briefings and cooperation extended during both the submission and the site visit, noting that the information gathered would inform its reporting to Parliament. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the close engagement with Parliament and its Committees in support of effective delivery of its mandate and Fiji’s national interests.
