Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management Hon Inia Seruiratu is leading a high level visit to Japan to look at strengthening relations between Fiji and Japan through his portfolio.
The visit this week to Tokyo is part of a high level exchange at the political level for both countries as they deepen relations following a successful visit to Japan in May last year by the Prime Minister Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama. The Minister will hold talks with his Japanese counterparts as well as senior political leaders. Hon Seruiratu will also meet the Chairman of the Japan/Fiji Parliamentary Friendship League and senior officials from Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] of Japan to be briefed on the Nadi River Alignment Project. Meetings with a few business leaders who are considering investing in Fiji’s rural and outer island infrastructure projects will also take place.
Since the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan last year, the two countries have looked at identifying areas that could potentially boost bilateral ties. High-level exchanges at the Ministerial levels, trade missions, trade fairs and trade growth are outcomes since the Prime Minister’s visit. Today, Fiji and Japan are looking at diversifying their relations into new areas and to establish a new and innovative level. Fiji’s geographical and socio-economic position is considered by Japan as effective in assisting sustainable development plans in Fiji and in other Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
The visit is also in preparation for the proposed visit of Prime Minister J.V Bainimarama to Japan, in March 2016 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Japan Hon Shinzo Abe.