DECISIONS OF THE 3RD CABINET MEETING HELD ON 17 FEBRUARY 2026

1. ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC MISSION OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA IN FIJI
Cabinet agreed to the request by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga for the establishment of its first diplomatic mission in Fiji.
 
The establishment of the Tongan Diplomatic Mission in Fiji will provide significant benefits, including:
 
a) strengthening bilateral relations through consistent, in-person, high-level engagements, moving from dialogue to actionable cooperation;
b) enhancing regional solidarity by providing a dedicated platform for coordinating positions on regional issues;
c) facilitating trade and investment by directly encouraging greater cooperation in business opportunities, labour mobility, and private sector engagement;
d) improving consular services for the respective diasporas and enhancing people-to-people cooperation, including educational exchanges and capacity building; and
e) reinforcing Suva’s hub status as the regional centre for diplomatic and economic activity.
 
All costs associated with the establishment and operation of the diplomatic mission will be borne by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga.
 
2. LOBSTER SIZE LIMITS AND HARVEST CONDITIONS
Cabinet endorsed the implementation of size limits and related harvest conditions for lobster.
 
The size limits proposed for the four lobster species are as follows:
 
·Golden rock lobster (Panulirus penicillatus  -uraukula/urauvatuvatu) – 90mm carapace length from the base of the rostral horn to the end of the carapace;
·Painted rock lobster (Panulirus versicolor-uraudina) – 120mm carapace length from the base of the rostral horn to the end of the carapace;
·Ornate rock lobster (Panulirus onatus – Urautamata) – 120mm carapace length from the base of the rostral horn to the end of the carapace; and
·Slipper lobster (Parribacus caledonicus  - vavaba/ivinibola) and all slipper lobsters occur in Fiji fisheries waters - 85mm total length.
 
In addition to the proposed size limits, the following measures will be introduced for the management of lobster fishery:
 
·Prohibit the harvest and sale of berry females (females that carry eggs visible from the outside) for all lobster species occurring in Fiji’s fisheries waters
·Prohibit the harvest and sale of soft-shelled lobsters that have recently undergone moulting for all lobster species occurring in Fiji’s fisheries waters.
 
Protecting and managing the adult lobster stock from overfishing is critical to sustaining reproduction and ensuring its success, as well as replenishing the lobster population. 
 
3. FIJI AND KIRIBATI SANDFISH AQUACULTURE COOPERATION
Cabinet endorsed the export of sandfish (Holothuria scabra) broodstock from Fiji to Kiribati under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Kiribati.
 
This aquaculture cooperation with Kiribati will support its aspirations for aquaculture and the blue economy, aligning with the Pacific Aquaculture Strategy.
 
Fiji is the only Pacific Island nation with a well-established sandfish hatchery. The Ministry of Fisheries has been culturing sandfish for the last 15 years and restocking them in marine protected areas to boost wild populations. This activity supports international fisheries management in adopting best practices.
 
4. GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE FOR THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK
Cabinet endorsed a government guarantee for the Fiji Development Bank (Bank) borrowings for the 12-month period from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027 (guarantee period) through the issuance of short- and long-term bonds, promissory notes, term deposits, any Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) financing facility including the RBF Housing Facilities and other short-term borrowings.
 
Cabinet also agreed that the government guarantee limit be increased from $190 million to $220 million.
 
The government guarantee will be tabled in Parliament.
 
6. GRANT FACILITY FOR PROJECT PREPARATION FOR FIJI ENERGY TRANSFORMATION PROJECT
Cabinet endorsed the World Bank Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP) to finance the Fiji Energy Transformation Project (Project) with a total grant amounting to USD 1.2 million (approximately FJD 2.67million).
 
The GFPP is a new allocation within the World Bank with Fiji being the first in the Pacific to access the facility.
 
The objective of the GFPP grant is to support the preparation of the Fiji Energy Transformation project.
 
The project activities are to facilitate the preparation of a proposed project designed to implement the clean energy investment programme in Fiji by:
engaging private sector investments in renewable energy investment;
improving flexibility of power grids for renewable energy integration; and
strengthening energy sector governance.
 
The key project components of the proposed Fiji Energy Transformation Project include:
solar power development with private sector engagement;
hydropower development;
strengthening power grid;
expanding electricity access;
technical assistance to improve energy sector governance; and
capacity building and project implementation support.
 
7. UN-FIJI COUNTRY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2025-2027
Cabinet endorsed the Fiji Country Implementation Plan (CIP) 2025-2027.
 
The CIP is a multi-year strategic plan derived from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027 for the Pacific.
 
The Plan is guided by Fiji’s national development priorities as outlined in the Fiji National Development Plan 2025–2029, with a focus on economic resilience, people empowerment, and good governance, alongside cross-cutting priorities of implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
 
8. MILLENIUM CORPORATION CHALLENGE COMPACT DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE FIJI COMPACT
Cabinet endorsed the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) initial US$12 million Compact Development Funding (CDF) Agreement for the Fiji Compact.
 
The MCC Compact is a five-year performance-based agreement between the U.S. Government and partner countries, designed to drive economic growth and reduce poverty through targeted investments.
 
The selection of Fiji by MCC to develop a Compact marking a key milestone in U.S.–Fiji relations and reflecting Fiji’s commitment to good governance, economic freedom, and investment in its people.