Fiji is currently participating at the 13th International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly Meeting on the 13th – 15th January 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The meeting was attended by the Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Hon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau and he was accompanied by Fiji’s Ambassador to the UAE Naipote Katonitabua, Director Energy, Mikaele Belena and Taniela Tabuya.
On 13th January, 2023, Minister Tuisawau had a bi-lateral meeting with the Director General of IRENA, Mr Francisco La Camera, in which he had reaffirmed the commitment of the Fiji Government in the work that IRENA has done in supporting member countries in achieving their energy transition target.
The Director General thanked the Government for accepting the invitation to attend the meeting. He had also reassured the IRENA commitment in providing the technical and financial support to member countries to leapfrog and achieve their carbon emission and renewable energy targets.
In the afternoon, he took part in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Ministerial Meeting.
The theme for the meeting was “Climate Pledges to Action Amplifying Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States”.
In his intervention, Minister Tuisawau stated that the energy transition for SIDS including Fiji will not be a smooth and simple one. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the everlasting threat of climate change has contributed directly to the increasing prices of fuel and the renewable energy technologies in the market. He added that the need to put in place resilient and sustainable infrastructure cannot be overstated.
He further stated that for SIDS to achieve their renewable energy and electricity access target, IRENA and other donor agencies have to set-up innovative and de-risking financial facilities and to streamline the process to make it easier and convenient for the public and private actors to access.
The Fijian Community in the UAE had hosted Minister Tuisawau and the delegation to a traditional welcome ceremony and dinner at the Fiji Embassy residence together with the opening of the new relocated Chancery.
The 13th IRENA Assembly Meeting continues on the 14th -15th January 2023 with the official opening taking place on the 14th January 2023.
On the 16th -18th January, 2023 the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will take place and this will coincide with the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards.
Minister Tuisawau is also schedule to meet with his counterpart from the UAE, Minister for Energy and Infrastructure, Mr Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei and a number of business investors in the infrastructure sector.
