The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, today announced that 15 students from Papua New Guinea will arrive in Fiji tomorrow to pursue studies across a wide range of courses offered at the Fiji National University’s (FNU) School of Tourism and Hospitality.
Minister Kubuabola said, “The Fiji Government scholarships awarded to the 15 PNG students was the outcome of an initiative by Fiji’s Prime Minister Bainimarama extended to PNG Prime Minister O’Neil during their respective visit to each other’s country in late 2012 and early 2013.”
He added that during the two Leader’s bilateral meeting, the PNG Tourism sector was identified as one of the priority areas needing development and capacity building. Furthermore, the positive impact of this development cooperation will contribute to the sustainable development of PNG tourism sector which is expected to grow as a result of the resource boom Papua New Guinea is experiencing.
State efforts personally led by both Prime Ministers have resulted in ramped up collaboration between the two large Pacific Island economies. Already trade and investment between the two countries under the MSG Trade Agreement (MSGTA) is expanding but this is just a tiny proportion of the potential that is still to be tapped.
In underlining the growing cooperation between the two countries, Fiji has reciprocated with this small gesture the goodwill of the Papua New Guinea Government which has committed to provide a total of K$50 million for pre and post electoral works.
Minister Kubuabola also acknowledged the contribution of our national university, FNU, in this undertaking.
“The FNU will be an instrumental player in accelerating the knowledge and solution transfer in this South-South initiative. More importantly it is within the Melanesian framework of cooperation which aims to strengthen our collective self-reliance and build our capacity according to our own unique needs,” Minister Kubuabola said.
-ENDS-