Press Releases
Grant Assistance to the Republic of Fiji Signing and Exchange of Notes on “the Project for the Reconstruction of Tamavua-i-wai Bridge”
On September 26, in Suva, the capital of the Republic of Fiji, H.E. Mr. MICHII Rokuichiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Fiji, and the Honourable Ro Filipe Qaraniqio TUISAWAU, Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport of the Republic of Fiji, signed and exchanged notes for “the Project for the Reconstruction of Tamavua-i-wai Bridge” (project up to 3,892 million yen).
- This project aims to strengthen the resilience of the backbone road against natural disasters by replacing the Tamavua-i-wai Bridge over the most important arterial road on the outskirts of the capital city of Suva.
- This project was signed in March 2022 for a grant of up to 2,931 million yen, but due to a shortage of funds caused by recent price hikes and other factors, an additional grant of 961 million yen has now been made and the limit has been revised to 3,892 million yen.
- In the “Leaders Declaration” and the "Joint Action Plan" issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held on July 18, Japan has announced “Climate Change and Disasters” and” Technology and Connectivity” as priority areas of cooperation, and this project embodies the Plan.
The Republic of Fiji covers 18,270 square kilometers and has a population of 936,375 people (2023, World Bank). It has a per capita gross national income (GNI) of US$5,580 (2023, World Bank).
On July 18, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was co-chaired by Prime Minister KISHIDA and Prime Minister BROWN of the Cook Islands, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Meeting was attended by the leaders and representatives of 19 countries, regions and regional organization including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia, and New Zealand, and the chair of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA represented the Republic of Fiji.
The Government of Japan announced Japan’s commitment to continue its robust development assistance and support for more than 6,500 people-to-people exchanges as well as human resource development over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation which are in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent or “2050 Strategy" of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): (1) Political Leadership and Regionalism, (2) People-centered Development, (3) Peace and Security, (4) Resources and Economic Development, (5) Climate Change and Disasters, (6) Ocean and Environment, (7) Technology and Connectivity.