INL 15 Jan 2019 Digital Edition

08
JANUARY 15, 2019
Fijilink
ADB to invest US$280 million in major projects in Fiji
Venkat Raman
The Asian Development
Bank (ADB) will invest
about US$280 million
on major infrastructure
projects in Fiji during 2019-2010,
President Takehiko Nakao has said.
He was in Suva yesterday to
discuss matters relating to the 52nd
Annual General Meeting of ADB,
scheduled to be held in the Fijian
Capital from May 1 to May 5, 2019.
Fiji is the Current Governor
of the ADB Board with Attorney
General and Minister of Economy
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum representing
the country and Reserve Bank
of Fiji Governor Ariff Ali as the
Alternate Governor.
Project details
Following meetings with
Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe
Bainimarama, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum
and Mr Ali, ADB would assist Fiji’s
development plans with a loan to
expand sewerage infrastructure
in Suva and policy-based loans to
improve the business environment
and public sector management, Mr
Nakao said.
A Fijian Government notification
said that 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 (JICA).
“The Project will protect Nadi
and surrounding areas, a vital hub
for logistics and tourism in the
Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama with Asian Development
Bank President Takehiko Nakao in Suva on Friday, January 12, 2019
region, from frequent flooding. ADB
will also continue to mobilise co-financing
from development partners,
such as the European Investment
Bank and the World Bank,” the
notification said.
Increasing commitment
ADB has committed US$593
million of assistance to Fiji since it
joined the Manila (Philippines) Bank
in 1970.
Since 2014, ADB has helped the
Fijian government mobilise large
financing packages for investments,
including concessional funds from
development partners such as the
Green Climate Fund.
Ongoing ADB projects include
the US$100 million Transport Infrastructure
Investment Sector Project,
US$42 million Fiji Urban Water
Supply and Wastewater Management
Investment Programme, US$15
million Sustained Private Sector-Led
Growth Reform Programme and
US$50 million Emergency Assistance
for Recovery from Tropical Cyclone
Winston.
Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao with Reserve Bank of Fiji
Governor Ariff Ali at a Press Conference in Suva on Friday, January 12, 2019
(Pictures from Facebook)
The Annual Meeting
Fiji will be the first Pacific developing
member country to host the
Annual Meeting of ADB. 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.’
Mr Nakao described the Annual
Meeting as ‘an excellent opportunity
to highlight the strength of the Fijian
economy and progress across the
wider Pacific region.’
“We will discuss, among others, the
development of sustainable tourism
and management of ocean health
which are important issues not only
for Fiji and other Pacific countries
but also for many Asian countries,”
he said.
Commendable Growth
Commending the impressive
growth of the Fijian economy along
with its sound fiscal management,
Mr Nakao said that the country
has achieved steady growth since
2010, longer than any period since it
gained independence in 1970.
The average annual growth during
2010-2018 is estimated at 3.1%, he
said.
“The Government has exercised
prudent macroeconomic management
in recent years. This has
attracted new investments and
created an environment in which
businesses can grow and generate
more jobs,” Mr Nakao said.
“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,” he
added.
Partnership Priorities
Mr Bainimarama said that there
was ample scope for strengthening
Fiji’s partnership with ADB in the
ensuing years.
“Our priorities for that partnership
are clear; we will attract more
investment, boost our climate resilience,
continue to build confidence
in our economy by increasing
engagement with the private sector,
continue developing a world-class
civil service, and develop even greater
networks of infrastructure for
the benefit of Fijians everywhere.
We will achieve these through
accountability, transparency and
good governance,” he said.
Mr Bainimarama said that Fiji’s
choice of being the host of the 52nd
Annual Meeting of ADB is a proud
recognition “among many, of our
capacity to host major international
events and we look forward to
showcasing Fiji’s development
achievements at the meeting in
Denarau this May.”
ADB in the Pacific
ADB is building its presence
in 11 Pacific Island countries to
increase the impact of its growing
programme of assistance.
The expansion will involve the
conversion of four extended missions,
in Samoa, Solomon Islands,
Tonga and Vanuatu, into country
offices and the establishment of
seven new country offices in the
Cook Islands, the Federated States
of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall
Islands, Nauru, Palau, and Tuvalu.
ADB currently has resident
missions in Papua New Guinea and
Timor-Leste, a Pacific Liaison And
Coordination Office in Sydney and a
Pacific Sub-Regional Office in Fiji.
Winner of the Indian Newslink
Community Award 2018
for Distinguished
Legal Services to communities
We take the stress out of the New Zealand
immigration and settlement process
Bringing NewZealand HeartSpecialists to Fiji
● Specialist Consultations ● Exercise Treadmill Test
● Echocardiography (Echo) ● Angiography
● Electrocardiogram (ECG) ● Angioplasty (Stenting)
● Acting on behalf of clients overseas and in New Zealand
● All types of New Zealand visa applications
● New Zealand Employers recruiting migrants
● Sorting visa problems (PPI letters and Visa Revocation)
● Declined visas, complaints and complex cases
● Section 61 requests for people unlawfully in New Zealand
● Deportation orders and Detention issues
● All types of Appeals (legally aided for some)
● Refugee/Asylum and Family reunification cases
● New Zealand Citizenship
● Sale, purchase and Property Refinancing Transactions
● Enduring Powers of Attorney and Wills
AUCKLAND OFFICE
Level 1, 207 Broadway, Newmarket 1023, Auckland
Phone: +64 9 283 0157 Fax: +64 4 461 6019
Email: auckland@idesilegal.co.nz
Website: www.immigrationlawyersauckland.co.nz
WELLINGTON OFFICE
Unit 4, 18 Moorefield Road, PO Box 13208, Johnsonville, Wellington 6037
Phone: +64 4 461 6018 Fax: +64 4 461 6019
Email: admin@idesilegal.co.nz
DUNEDIN OFFICE
Level 1, 252 Cumberland Street, Dunedin Central 9016, Dunedin,
Phone: +64 3 926 9755 Fax: +64 4 461 6019
Email: dunedin@idesilegal.co.nz
12 Commercial Street, Namaka, Nadi