Minister Seruiratu meets with the Tuvaluan Counterpart

Collaboration between Fiji and Tuvalu will be further strengthened through the meeting held last week between the Minister for Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs, Hon. Inia Seruiratu and the Tuvaluan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Environment and Labour, Hon. Taukelina Finikaso.

The two ministers had bilateral discussions focused on the socioeconomic sectors of education, agriculture, fisheries, trade and maritime surveillance and are pleased with the progress made in recent years to advance relations, ultimately advancing the national development in both the countries.

Fiji through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is progressively pursuing a “Development Cooperation Framework” that aims to provide strategic guidance to the way in which Fiji and Tuvalu cooperate by providing the institutional arrangements for engagement and identifying sectors of interest to both the countries.

Both Ministers discussed the prospects of having greater collaboration in the development of trade between the two countries particularly trade in services through the provision of Fijian teachers to the Tuvalu Government under the Fiji Volunteer Scheme.

Fiji is looking forward to broadening its bilateral engagements with the Pacific Island Nations through South- South Cooperation and the sharing of expertise on cross-cutting development issues such as climate change.