The strengthening of diplomatic relations and the promise of trade alliances is hoped with the opening of three new embassies in Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia next year.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said the inclusion of the establishment of the new embassies in the 2011 National Budget was a leap in terms of expanding foreign relations in these countries.
Acting Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced allocations for the establishment of these embassies in his budget address this morning at the FIRCA Complex lounge in Suva.
Government has allocated $1,097,243 for the establishment of an Embassy in Jakarta – Indonesia, $793, 644 for the Fiji Embassy in Brazil and the South African Embassy for $772, 832.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum announced that the establishment of the embassies was in line with government’s intentions of maximizing trade and export opportunities.
“Fiji intends to maximise its trade and export opportunities through improved ties with China of course, and India, Indonesia, Malaysia and other Asian and emerging economies.
“In this vein, the 2011 Budget has allocated funds for the opening of missions in Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said the opening of the embassies promised exciting opportunities.
The Fiji Embassy in Indonesia is expected to be opened within Jan – April next year.
“It’s exciting, we are expanding our foreign relations with the new embassy in Jakarta, roughly by the first quarter of next then Brazil and South Africa later on in the year,” Ratu Inoke said.
“We are happy – for Jakarta it is very important because as you know we had applied to join the non-alignment movement early this year and Indonesia is one of those members.
“And also we have applied to be an observer in the Asian – the Asian Secretariat is based in Jakarta so it’s very important that we have a mission there in Jakarta so the new ambassador in Jakarta will also be accredited to the Asian countries.
“South Africa and Brazil we don’t have any representation in Africa so we need to, so many countries there, that’s why we want the Embassy in Johannesburg and also in Brazil for the continent of South America.
“This will encourage trade, people exchange and forms of assistance coming from those countries to Fiji.”
Fiji currently has 12 diplomatic missions around the world.
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