H.E. RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU - ADDRESS AT THE GALA DINNER FOR INAUGURAL PIDF MEETING

07/08/2013


HIS EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, LVO, OBE (Mil), OStJ, CSM, MSD
President of the Republic of Fiji
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ADDRESS AT THE GALA DINNER FOR THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC ISLAND DEVELOPMENT FORUM
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Sheraton Fiji Wednesday, 7th August, 2013
NADI 6.30p.m.
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Your Excellencies- Prime Ministers and Deputy Heads of Governments,
Ministers,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Delegates and Observers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good evening to you all, ni sa bula vinaka, salaam alaykum, namaste.

It is an honour and equally a great pleasure to be your host tonight.

I understand that for some of you tonight may be your last night in Fiji but nevertheless I extend to you the warm greetings and the well wishes of the people of Fiji.

I trust that your PIDF experience here in Fiji has not only been an engaging one but also a unique and enriching one as well!

As we draw the curtains on this landmark event, allow me to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for your attendance and your active participation over the past three days.

Your inspiration and enthusiastic involvement has provided the momentum and the substance for this historic gathering.

More importantly, I also recognize that without the expression and the investment of financial and political capital from development partners, this empowering platform would not have materialized effortlessly.

May I add to the chorus of appreciation in registering the grateful appreciation of the Fijian people, and may I add that of the PSIDS, as well for their sterling efforts in our hour of need.

Lastly but not least, I also commend the effort of everyone who toiled tirelessly behind the scene over the past few months in ensuring that everything went smoothly at this meeting.

This week’s event marks, a watershed moment for the people of the Pacific as we synergize efforts to construct an inclusive and sustainable development architecture predicated on south-south cooperation.

Through this inaugural Pacific Islands Development Forum, we have rallied governments, the private sector, the civil society, and the academic and scientific communities to address a range of regional development challenges through a ‘green economy’ approach.

My understanding of a ‘green economy’ approach infuses low carbon, resource efficiency and social inclusivity.

Remarkably, the PSIDS and the pacific territories have low carbon profiles due to our low carbon emission.

However, there exists a large potential for renewable energy which can retire our fossil fuel based technologies.

We already have existing ‘green economy’ practices such low carbon high labour intensive agriculture, community based forestry amongst some of these.

And as you have consulted and strategized over these past few days it is clear that the onus is not only on governments but more importantly on the private sector and civil society to instill strategies, target public expenditure, policy reforms and regulatory changes to promote further investment.

These bold and transformative measures require an open and an innovative frame of mind, strong political will and a supportive international framework that builds capacity and leverages financial resources among other things.

And so without dwelling on the technical aspects of the issue i am keenly aware that there is still much work to be done.

I certainly hope that you will leave Fiji with a sense of optimism and the resolve to implement sustainable strategies and programmes that you have strategized over the past few days.

These strategies will foster progressive and sustainable societies.

A similar journey is being embarked upon in Fiji, this journey began almost 43 years ago and, of course, has had aberrations along the way but I can assure you tonight that Fiji is adamant on undertaking this path to sustainable democracy.

This journey reflects, not the ‘future Fiji wants’ but the ‘future Fiji needs’ because this is absolutely critical.

Fiji’s Roadmap to the 2014 General Elections is clearly sign-posted. The milestones achieved so far on this important journey, includes the registration of major political parties, voter registration which now stands at 533,000 and counting, a new constitution by this September and ultimately elections under this constitution by September 2014.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen tonight is our island night, the future looks bright and the stars shine upon us favourably.

It, therefore, gives me the greatest pleasure to invite you all to join me in a toast to “an effective and energized Pacific Islands Development Forum”

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