The establishment of an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Office in Fiji was high on the agenda this week between the Foreign Minister Hon. Rt Inoke Kubuabola and the IOM Chief of Mission for Australia and Coordinator and Advisor for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, Mr. Joseph Samuel Appiah.
Mr Appiah conveyed the IOM’s Director General’s, Ambassador William Lacy Swing’s appreciation for the IOM’s engagements with Fiji as the IOM will soon establish a physical presence in Fiji. Mr Appiah informed the Minister that they are now in the process of identifying a suitable office space in Suva and also formalising the appointment of a National Officer.
Mr Appiah informed the Minister on the work carried out by the IOM in Fiji and the region. He added that the new office intends to work closely with the Fijian government and looking at developing new relations with Fijian communities. He also proposed also conveyed interest with assisting the Fiji Government in undertaking an IOM funded project on Fiji’s rural to urban drift trend, which would assist the Fijian Government towards future infrastructure planning.
Minister Kubuabola welcomed the establishment of an IOM office in Suva and offered to assist in the establishment process.
The two also discussed the issue of climate change and its impacts on communities in Fiji and in the region.