Reports from multilateral institutions that project positive economic growth of up to 4.7 per cent for the Pacific region are very encouraging, says Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Faiyaz Koya.
He was speaking intervention at the 12th Pacific Island Conference of Leaders (PICL) Meeting with the Secretariat on Tuesday in Honolulu, Hawaii.
With a focus on intervention on agenda Item 2: Member Country and Territory Priorities, Mr Koya said economic recovery post COVID-19 was a key priority for Fiji.
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Fijian economy forced us to revisit our strategies and refocus our efforts to new and innovative ways of doing business.
With the resumption of tourism, our economy is conservatively projected to grow by 12.4 per cent this year and we are aiming to fully return to pre-COVID GDP levels by 2024,” he said.
Meanwhile with climate change remaining the single greatest threat to the region’s livelihood, security and the wellbeing of the people, Mr Koya said Fiji welcomed the change in tone taken by the United States under the Biden Administration on Climate Change.
“…and we continue to encourage our partners and the international community to meet and exceed their obligations set out under the Paris Agreement and deliver more ambitious climate action.”
He said the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) was seen as potentially playing an important role as a gateway between the United States and the Pacific with this role being especially important now that Forum Leaders had endorsed the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent which sets out the vision and charts the way forward as a region.
As co-chair of the sub-committee that oversaw the development of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Mr Koya said leaders had endorsed the 2050 Strategy which sets out the long-term vision and aspirations and the regional approach to work together as a collective.
“The work that is before us now is critical as we move into the development of an implementation plan.
“Chair, as equally important, is the work that will be undertaken in the review of the regional architecture. It is critical that all our regional agencies are actively involved in these discussions so that we have a fit for purpose regional architecture that responds to the needs of members. On this note, I would also urge PIDP to see to it that they are involved in those discussions when the work commences.”
