FAO sub – regional coordinator and FAO representative to Fiji pays a courtesy call to PS Dr. Taga

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Mr Guangzhou Qu paid his courtesy call as the newly appointed FAO Representative to Fiji, to the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Raijeli Taga, at the Ministry headquarters in Suva on Monday 31 March 2025.

Mr. Qu was appointed by the Director General of FAO as FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands in February 2025, and is based in Apia, Samoa. He will serve consecutively as the FAO Representative in Fiji upon presentation of his credentials formalising his accreditation to the new role.
Dr Taga congratulated Mr Qu and wished him well for the new role and expressed confidence that given his distinctive experience and expertise, Mr Qu will strengthen the cooperation between Fiji and FAO, even further.

Similarly, Dr Taga extended the Government of Fiji’s sincere appreciation to the FAO for their ongoing support and collaboration. She acknowledged that this year marks a milestone – 54 years of enduring cooperation between Fiji and FAO, signifying the strengthen of the cooperation aimed at promoting sustainable development, economic resilience and improving the livelihood of communities in Fiji.

The partnership has materialized into numerous initiatives at the national and community level promoting efficient and inclusive food security and agriculture supply chains, ensuring resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
Dr Taga assured Mr. Qu of the Government of Fiji’s commitment and support to collaborate closely with the FAO sub-regional office to enhance the engagements ahead.

In his remarks, Mr. Qu emphasized his commitment to continuing the strong partnership with the Government of Fiji through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He highlighted the shared focus on advancing sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing food security, and supporting climate resilience initiatives across the nation.

FAO’s ongoing cooperation in Fiji consists of 20 projects, with a focus on promoting sustainable increases in the production and marketing of agricultural products. The organization is also advancing climate-smart and sustainable practices to build resilience in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.

In addition, FAO is working to strengthen efficient agrifood value chains, ensuring the availability of safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
Furthermore, Fiji has recently become part of FAO’s corporate Hand-in-Hand Initiative, aligning Fiji’s efforts with this transformative initiative to drive impactful development in the country.

FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) leading international efforts with a goal to achieve food and security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food and lead active, healthy lives. It contributes to improving local economies by helping member countries modernize agriculture, forestry, and fisheries practices.