EU and Fiji Sign FJ$65 million Partnership for Development

Fiji's Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and the European Commissioner for International Development Neven Mimica, today signed a new partnership programme which will guide European Union development co-operation with Fiji until 2020.

A FJ$65 million (US$31million) support programme to the Fijian agriculture and sugar sector and to the justice sector will be implemented over the next five years.

Prime Minister Bainimarama and Commissioner Mimica signed the National Indicative Programme for Fiji in Suva today.

The FJ$65 million support programme was jointly prepared by the European Union and the Government of Fiji to address key development challenges.

     

The Fijian Prime Minister Bainimarama said, “Today marks another milestone in the full restoration of our longstanding co-operation provided for under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. Through the signature today of Fiji’s National Indicative Programme for the period 2014–2020 totalling 28 million Euros, we have charted a new course of close and mutual co-operation in various areas of development.”

“I am delighted to sign together with the Government of the Republic of Fiji this programming document which heralds a new era of strengthened cooperation between the European Union and Fiji.  It reflects the EU's commitment to support the Governments' efforts in driving forward sustainable development and in improving citizens' access to justice,” Commissioner Mimica said.   

Under the support to the agriculture and sugar sector, for which an indicative amount of FJ$46 million (US$22 million) is earmarked, specific attention will be invested in strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of the sugar cane industry with a particular focus on vulnerable sugarcane farming communities.  

The assistance to the judiciary sector, for which an indicative amount of FJ$19 million (US$9 million) is earmarked will focus on 'Access to Justice'. The initiative will include strengthening the capacities of key justice public institutions and helping poor and marginalised communities to improve their access to legal services.

SOURCE: FIJI GOVT/EU