Fiji is stepping up its collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to safeguard and elevate the nation’s rich cultural and heritage assets.
The Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage, Arts and Public Enterprises, Hon. Charan, received a courtesy visit from UNESCO Director of the Regional Office and Representative for the Pacific States, Mr. Sardar Umar Alam. Their discussions centred on strengthening cooperation to preserve Fiji’s heritage while unlocking new opportunities for cultural development.
Key areas of discussion included the development of heritage sites such as Levuka, Fiji’s old capital, and the expansion of UNESCO-supported programmes across the country.
Minister Singh underscored Fiji’s wealth of intangible cultural heritage, highlighting the importance of protecting traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and long-standing practices so they can be passed on to future generations.
The meeting also explored the possibility of deploying UNESCO’s technical team to Fiji to guide the process of listing intangible cultural heritage and heritage sites, and to advise on how international recognition can generate social and economic benefits for local communities.
Mr. Alam welcomed Fiji’s proactive approach and outlined potential areas for deeper collaboration. These include expanding World Heritage sites, advancing the listing of Fiji’s intangible cultural heritage, and exploring linkages with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
He noted that UNESCO programmes can be strategically aligned with rural development initiatives, creating pathways for communities to earn sustainable income while preserving and celebrating their cultural identity.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working closely with UNESCO and communities nationwide to ensure that Fiji’s cultural and heritage resources are protected, celebrated and responsibly leveraged for national development.