Press Releases
Grant Assistance to the Republic of Fiji Signing and Exchange of Notes on “the Project for the Development of Regional Centres for the Improvement of Meteorological Services and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Pacific Islands”
On March 27, 2025, 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 Development of Regional Centres for the Improvement of Meteorological Services and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Pacific Islands” (project up to 1,739 million yen).
- This project aims to improve meteorological services and strengthen early warning systems in the Pacific Island region by developing the training center, measuring instrument center, and disaster prevention and awareness exhibition facilities of the Fiji Meteorological Service, the region’s core hub in the meteorological field, thereby enhancing human resource development and quality control of meteorological data.
- This project will be carried out as part of the Co-creation for common agenda initiative, “Strengthening Disaster Prevention and Early Warning Systems in Fiji and the Pacific Region”, and the Government of the Republic of Fiji also expressed appreciation to the comprehensive approach of this initiative, responding to the important issue of natural disasters together with Japan, in a manner to make use of Japan's knowledge of disaster risk reduction and “Build Back Better”.
- In the “Leaders’ Declaration” and the "Joint Action Plan" issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held in July 2024, Japan has announced “Climate Change and Disasters” as a priority area of cooperation, and this project embodies the Plan.
(Reference1) Basic Data on the Republic of Fiji
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).
(Reference2) Co-creation for common agenda initiative
Japan will proactively propose appealing cooperation menus that leverage its strengths in development cooperation, in the areas that are strategically important based on its foreign policy perspective.
This initiative aims to achieve development goals by the "co-creation" of social value through dialogue and collaboration with the partner countries, while mobilizing other official flows (OOF) and private finance in combination with ODA.
(Reference3)10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10)
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.