The official opening of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) new Regional Mission in Fiji, today signifies a landmark achievement in the advancement of Fiji and the United States cooperation.
USAID’s, the world’s biggest aid agency based in Suva will have primary responsibility over USAID programs in nine Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.
The new Mission was officially opened today by the USAID Administrator Samantha Power and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, at the United States Embassy in Suva.
Administrator Ms Power was also joined by Ambassador, Ms. Marie C. Damour and new USAID Pacific Mission Director Ms. Zema Semunegus, and members of the diplomatic corps, Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies, non-government and civil society organisations.
On behalf of the Government and the people of Fiji, Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua congratulated and thanked the Government of the United States for their unwavering commitment in establishing the new Mission in Fiji, which will advance our development cooperation to new levels.
She said the new Mission is a testament of how far we have come in reaffirming our partnership in regional cooperation, and in saying that Fiji looks forward to working closely with the Government of the United States in advancing our economic growth and common priorities.
In her remarks, Ms. Power said the opening of the new USAID Mission in Fiji demonstrates the United States' commitment to partnering with our Pacific Island neighbors and fulfilling the commitment made by President Biden last year at the historic Summit with Pacific Islands Leaders.
She spoke on the important role of the USAID/Pacific Islands Mission to implement the five-year USAID Strategic Framework for the Pacific Islands, which aligns with the priorities of the Pacific Island nations in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, to advance a more democratic, prosperous, and resilient Pacific Island region.
Ms. Power said the increased presence will enhance USAID’s partnership with individual Pacific Island governments, build stronger people-to-people ties, and implement more tailored programs at the community level.
Ms. Power announced that USAID will provide $600,000 in technical assistance and training to the government to conduct electoral reform to strengthen the inclusiveness, fairness, credibility, and integrity of local elections.
The assistance is to support Fiji’s vision for increasing inclusive, peaceful, and participatory democracy, whereby USAID will work with the Government of Fiji as it holds its first municipal elections since 2005.