Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia conducts First Official visit to Western Australia

The High Commissioner of Fiji to Australia, H.E. Mr. Luke Daunivalu, paid a 3-day official visit to Western Australia this week.

It was the first official visit by a Fijian High Commissioner to Western Australia since 2007.

With bilateral relations between Fiji and Australia given a recent boost by the historical visit to Fiji in January of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, High Commissioner Daunivalu’s official visit to Western Australia was an opportunity to reinforce the importance of strong ties between the two countries at every level of Government and with all Australian States.

In order to cover the broad spectrum of Fiji’s interest in Australia, the High Commissioner was accompanied by Mr. Zarak Khan, Fiji’s Consul General and Trade Commissioner to Australia & New Zealand as well as officials from the Fiji High Commission and the Fiji Consulate and Trade Commission.

Meetings and discussions were held with key representatives of the Western Australian Government and included a call on the Governor, Hon. Kim Beazley, the Ministries responsible for mineral resources and energy, foreign affairs, trade, jobs, tourism, economic development as well as the judiciary. The delegation explored opportunities for cooperation with the City of Perth officials and the Western Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. With trade and defence cooperation already in place between the two countries on gold processing and naval vessels, High Commissioner Daunivalu visited the Perth Mint and Austal, the company responsible for building patrol boats under the Pacific Maritime Security Programme.

Opportunities exist for stronger relations and cooperation in economic and cultural exchanges, university education, sports, agriculture, mining, ICT, manufacturing and tourism.

A business networking event was held at Perth Town Hall to promote Fiji to Western Australia as an attractive trade, investment and tourism destination. Also present to support the event was the Fiji Airways Regional General Manager, John Nickel.

As part of the Fijian Government’s commitment of taking services to the people, consular services were provided to Fijians living in Western Australia during the visit.

The Fijian community in Perth welcomed the High Commissioner and his delegation at an evening function that afforded the High Commissioner an opportunity to provide an update on key developments in Fiji during a Talanoa session