MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, HERITAGE, ARTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT HON. PREMILA KUMAR'S SPEECH AT THE SISTER CITY ARRANGEMENT – SUVA CITY COUNCIL AND FRANKSTON CITY COUNCIL

The Mayor of Frankston City Council – Councillor Kris Bolam
Acting Permanent Secretary for Local Government – Shaheen Ali
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Suva City Council – Azam Khan
Senior Government and Council Officials
Media Representatives
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
I would like to start by welcoming you, Councillor Kris Bolam, to Fiji. Having you here in person is a sure show of commitment to the partnership we are about to embark on.
 
The Ministry of Local Government is happy to facilitate the Friendship City Relationship between the Suva City Council and the Frankston City Council.
 
Suva, the Capital City, is the commercial and administrative hub of Fiji. We’re home to the Pacific’s tertiary university, home to foreign missions and international bodies and other regional organisations. So in many ways, we connect the Pacific and the Pacific peoples.
 
Over the years, we’ve strengthened this status with the Fijian Government’s policies that have seen activities in the municipality expand – including significant private sector investments.
 
So by having mutual cooperation arrangements, such as the one between Suva and Frankston City Councils, we intend to use this as a means to promote the development of urban city life – that eventually translates into better living standards. We see this as   an opportunity to share experiences, share resources, and share expertise that advance our common aspirations.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have identified some critical areas of cooperation from culture and education to sports.  We expect through these broad based goals, we will achieve more specific goals over the next two or three months.
 
We are optimistic that the working relationship between the two municipalities will lead to beneficial results.
 
This relationship has been formed with an intention to re-engineer business activities and continue strengthening asset management. As a Government, and as Councils, we see great benefits in forging partnerships.
 
The Suva City Council has been working with the UNESCAP to develop COVID-19 economic recovery programmes as a priority. We are also working with the United States - Pacific Climate Ready initiative to develop an Asset Management programme. Through this – we are trying to secure funding to climate-proof City Council assets – an area we see benefiting us in more ways than one. 
 
Councillor Bolam, with our partnership, I hope to see more meaningful connection between our cities, and our people.
 
I take this opportunity to convey our thanks and appreciation for the delivery of hospital beds by Frankston City Council to assist us with our response to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Also wish to acknowledge the Managing Director of Cross Ocean Freight Logistics LTD for facilitating the delivery of these beds.
 
Finally Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish the two Cities the best in this engagement and hope for a successful journey to strengthen and support each other.

Vinaka Vakalevu and thank you.