The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will continue its work assisting Pacific Island countries walk their journey to self-reliance, says newly-appointed senior development Dr Alexandria Huerta.
Speaking during a news conference at the American embassy on Thursday, Dr Huerta said they intended a future where island countries could take charge of their destiny and their development.
Dr Huerta said they wanted to ensure that countries were strong enough to handle challenges that came their way.
“We need to move away from the current donor and donor recipient relationship to a partnership,” she said.
Responding to questions from the media regarding America’s concentrated presence in the Pacific, Dr Huerta said a little funding would go a long way in achieving that commitment.
“We feel that if we can get some of our resources and our ability to help, this could go more than halfway in our efforts,” she said.
US ambassador Joseph Cella said concentration of US presence was consistent with current geopolitical dynamics.
Mr Cella said the US presence in the Pacific was nothing new, adding they were just strengthening these ties.
He said there were possibilities of opening up bilateral trade relations in the agricultural sector between Fiji and the US.
The US government through the USAID has provided more than $27.7 million in assistance to Pacific Island countries to help them respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile in her new role, Dr Huerta will oversee donor engagement and coordination, strategic development and development of USAID programs in the Pacific Islands.
