ADB president discusses deepening partnership with Fiji

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Mr. Takehiko Nakao and Prime Minister of Fiji Mr. Voreqe Bainimarama met to discuss ways ADB will expand and strengthen its partnership with Fiji.

During the visit to Fiji, Mr. Nakao visited facilities in Denarau and Natadola which will be the sites of ADB’s 52nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors on 1–5 May 2019. Fiji will be the first Pacific developing member country to host ADB’s Annual Meeting. The meeting is the largest gathering of the bank and a unique opportunity for ADB Governors, government officials, the private sector, and development partners and experts to discuss critical issues and challenges facing Asia and the Pacific. The theme of the 2019 Annual Meeting is “Prosperity Through Unity.”

“ADB will continue working closely with Fiji to support the country’s efforts to achieve sustained, inclusive, private sector-led growth that brings benefits to the entire population,” said Mr. Nakao.

“Our priorities for that partnership are clear; we’re going to attract more investment, we’re going to further boost our climate resilience, we’re going to continue to build confidence in our economy by increasing engagement with the private sector, we’re going to continue developing a world-class civil service, and we’re going to develop even greater networks of infrastructure for the benefit of Fijians everywhere, all through the lens of accountability, transparency, and good governance,” said Prime Minister of Fiji Mr. Voreqe Bainimarama. 

ADB expects to invest approximately $280 million in Fiji in 2019–2020. Major planned projects include a loan to expand sewerage infrastructure in Suva and policy-based loans to improve the business environment and public sector management. ADB has already started preparation of a Nadi River flood protection project, which is expected to be co-financed with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA. The project will protect Nadi and surrounding areas—a vital hub for logistics and tourism in the region—from frequent flooding. ADB will also continue to mobilize co-financing from development partners, such as the European Investment Bank and the World Bank.

Original source: ADB
Published on 10 January 2019