Preparatory works to set up a Fijian embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, is still in progress.
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad said this in Parliament when queried about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocation of $4 million on the re-opening of overseas missions under the 2023-2024 National Budget.
Opposition MP Ioane Naivalurua said when Prof Prasad announced the national budget, he mentioned the re-opening of a Fijian Embassy in Israel when listing the re-opening of overseas missions that was allocated $4m.
But he said in the budget estimates document the proposed embassy in Israel was not covered, and those listed were the re-opening of embassies in Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Washington.
“Since it was announced on national budget day, we thought it would happen,” Mr Naivalurua said.
In response, Prof Prasad said they were still trying to sort out some issues to enable the opening of the embassy in Israel and that it would take quite some time to address them.
He said if they were able to address the issues, then it would be accommodated in head 50 of this financial year.
“The re-opening of embassies in PNG, Malaysia and Washington were immediate ones,” Prof Prasad said.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry was allocated $37.9m.
