HER MAJESTY QUEEN MAXIMA OF THE NETHERLANDS PRAISES FIJI FOR INCLUSIVE FINANCING
25 September 2013, New York: Fijian Prime Minister Josaia V. Bainimarama met today with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in Her Majesty’s capacity as the Special Advocate of the UN Secretary-General for Inclusive Financing for Development.
The Prime Minister welcomed Her Majesty to the G77 office at the UN and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet with her, and discuss the important work she had undertaken for the United Nations on inclusive financing for development.
In explaining her work on raising the profile of inclusive financing in the context of the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda, Queen Maxima congratulated Fiji for the excellent work it has undertaken on promoting inclusive financing. She pointed out her frequent use of Fiji as an example when advocating for financial inclusion; citing examples of Fiji’s use of mobile banking services and the expansion of the rural banking network.
In discussing the need for inclusive financing to feature strongly in the post-2015 development agenda, Queen Maxima stressed that in the pursuit of eliminating poverty and hunger, creating livelihoods must be the central goal and inclusive financing is critical to achieving this goal. Her Majesty will encourage the G77 to consider how inclusive financing can be incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda, either through a specific goal on inclusive financing or through the use of indicators mapping access to financing.
The Prime Minister assured Queen Maxima that the G77 would consider these issues, and encouraged her office to remain connected with the Expert Working Group on Financing for Development which was established this year. It was also agreed that Queen Maxima be invited to address the G77 in New York on these issues at an appropriate time.
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