Courtesy Call From the Newly Appointed European Union Head of Political Section
18/02/2022
PS Karan Receives Farewell Courtesy Call from Kiribati High Commissioner
28/02/2022Published On: 22/02/2022
Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs, Yogesh Karan received a courtesy call from the French Ambassador to Fiji, His Excellency François-Xavier Léger, yesterday morning at the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.
At the meeting, discussions focused on potential opportunities in multilateralism, engagements in economy and trade, climate change and oceans, peacekeeping and sports diplomacy.
PS Karan reaffirmed the Fijian Government’s commitment to enhance partnership with France in the advancement of economic and investment prospects.
In response, Ambassador Léger said the Fijian economy is dynamic and offers a lot of opportunities in the areas of trade and investment.
“We are confident that our economic relations can be developed further, we inform French companies about the business environment and we can also facilitate their contacts. In line with our international commitments, we support the prospecting efforts of the French companies which are active in the field of renewable energies.”
He said France aspires to take concrete actions to deliver its commitment to climate change, particularly in enhancing the provisions for climate funding to Fiji and the Pacific.
The French Development Agency (AFD) led -program Kiwa Initiative, a multi-donor program aims to strengthen climate change resilience of Pacific Island ecosystems, communities and economies through Nature-based Solutions (NbS), by protecting, sustainably managing and restoring biodiversity.
“It is founded on easier access to climate change adaptation and NbS funding for national and local authorities, civil society, international and local NGOs and regional organisations in Pacific Island Countries and territories, including the three French overseas territories. The Initiative is currently endowed with nearly 41 million euros and is managed by the Agence Française de Développement. For the first time, it brings together the European Union, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.”
The French Ambassador commended Fiji for its recent participation and powerful commitment at the One Ocean Summit and said “We were honoured to have a virtual participation of Fiji’s Acting Prime Minister.”
“Representatives of more than 100 countries from all sea basins and representing more than half the world’s exclusive economic zones have stated their determination to preserve the oceans by contributing to the ‘Brest Commitments for the Oceans’.”
The Summit provided an opportunity for Fiji to express its position and raise its voice on oceans and climate.
In terms of sports diplomacy, France will also host three major sports events in 2023 (Rugby World Cup) 2024 (Olympic and Paralympic Games), 2025 (Rugby XIII World Cup) and each of these sports events will bring new opportunities to develop Fiji-France bilateral relations.
Fiji and France have a very active relationship in the field of sport with more than 200 Fijian players in French clubs and they contribute significantly to the Fijian economy through remittances.
