- FIJI STRENGTHENS RELATIONS WITH CHINA’S GUANGDONG PROVINCE – The Fijian Government has further strengthened its relations with China’s Guangdong Province through a historic signing of several memorandum of understanding agreements during the “China (Guandong) – Fiji Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference.
- MINISTER AKBAR ADDRESSES THE PLIGHT OF A FAMILY IN NAKASI – In the quest to assist the underprivileged families in Fiji, the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation have adopted a quick response strategy.
3. VISIT TO ACTIVATE YOUTH GROUPS – Two thousand five hundred (2500) youth groups in Fiji are registered under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
4. MINISTER ENCOURAGES YOUTHS TO DISCOVER TALENTS – “Fiji has talents that are yet to be discovered and it must be revealed with the right teachings”.
- CONSULTATIONS WITH NORTH YOUTH – The Hon. Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou is holding consultations with registered youth groups in the Cakaudrove Province in the Northern Division this week.
- FIJI STRENGTHENS RELATIONS WITH CHINA’S GUANGDONG PROVINCE
The Fijian Government has further strengthened its relations with China’s Guangdong Province through a historic signing of several memorandum of understanding agreements during the “China (Guandong) – Fiji Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference.
Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Mr Faiyaz Koya said it was an important event as it further deepened relations between trade, investment and economic cooperation with the Guangdong Province.
“Today’s conference will ensure that Fiji and Guangdong Province of China maintain close relations to maintain close relations to implement the relevant cooperation initiatives,” he said.
Minister Koya said Fiji and Guangdong shared many synergies, including tourism and trade, and there was potential to grow them further through the 12 Government and commercial memorandum of understandings (MOU) signed.
“The Government to Government MOUs will provide a general framework for dialogue and cooperation on health, tourism and other areas of mutual interest,” he said.
Minister Koya said the MOUs will contribute to the improvement of social and economic relations and develop active technical cooperation between the countries in the respective areas.
“The commercial MOUs will be conduits for growth of bilateral trade and investment by Guangdong nationals in Fiji.”
The Chinese delegation was led by Mr Hu Chunhua, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee in China.
The following MOUs and agreements were signed today:
- MOU on Strengthening Cooperation between Suva and Guangzhou City
- Co-building of Guangdong Friendship Garden
- MOU between Guangdong Health and Family Planning Commission (GDHFPC) and Ministry of Health, Fiji
- MOU on Establishment of Fiji-Guangdong Bilateral Enterprises Council
- Cooperation Agreement on Supporting Exhibitions in Guangzhou between CCPIT Guangzhou and Fiji-China Business Council
- MOU on Establishing Sister School Relationship between Zhongkai Secondary School in Huizhou city, Guangdong Province and Sun Yat-sen Secondary School in Suva
- MOU on Strengthening Tourism Cooperation between the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Fiji and the Tourism Administration of Guangzhou
- MOU on Tourism between Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province (TAGD) and South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO)
- Projects of Fishing, Selling and Processing of Tuna and other Seadfood in Fiji
- Nadi Tourist Resort Project in Fiji between Guangzhou Tianli Co., LTD and NEW ERA DEVELOPMENT Ltd
- Fiji Forestry & Wood Industry Development Project
- Fiji Pengtao China Town Real Estate Project between Guangzhou Pengtao Real Estate co., Ltd and Tropical Isles Ltd
- Hotel Apartments Investment Projects of Martin Place in Nadi
- Fiji Agricultural Development Project
- Fiji Suva Mining Investment Project
- Project of Black Pearl and Crab Farming, Processing and Selling in Fiji
- Fiji Vanuatu Biological Planting Development and Marketing Project
- Sales Cooperation Project of TCL /Alcatel Cellphone and Tablet Products between TCL Electronics Australia Pty Ltd and FONEOLOGY SOLUTIONS Ltd
- Tourism Service Cooperation Project between CITIC International Travel Co.,Ltd and Fiji Summer Holiday Travel Agency
- Tourism Service Cooperation Project between China Younger Travel Service and Tour Managers (Fiji) Ltd
- Tourism Service Cooperation Project between China Travel Service Gongbei Port and Breadfruit Tours (Fiji) ltd
- Education Fund by Huizhou Municipal People’s Government of Guangdong Province to the Chinese Education Society of Fiji
- Guangdong International Cultural Exchanges Base
- Guangdong Tourism and Promotion Center South Pacific
- Fiji-Guangdong Medical Training Center
Investment Fiji chief executive officer, Godo Muller-Teut highlighted how total trade between Fiji and China had grown since 2009.
He said Fiji had a business friendly tax system that supported innovation and investment.
Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Jioji Konrote was also present during the signing of the MOUs and other agreements.
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- MINISTER AKBAR ADDRESSES THE PLIGHT OF A FAMILY IN NAKASI
In the quest to assist the underprivileged families in Fiji, the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation have adopted a quick response strategy.This was witnessed when the Minister, Hon. Rosy Akbar recently visited a family of eight in Nakasi, six of whom are children and have been living in a one bedroom house made up of old wooden structure for the last 10 years.
This case was brought to the attention of Minister Akbar through the Ministry’s coordinated committee on street beggars. The couple by the name of Chris Kumar and Siren Prasad had approached the Ministry for assistance in addressing some of the challenges they faced.
Currently, the family is assisted through Ministry’s Poverty Benefit Scheme where they receive the maximum assistance of $160 which is inclusive of the monthly food voucher.
The Ministry has liaised with Hart Home in Nausori to reserve a place for the family so that they can have a spacious place to live in because the current house is not suitable for an extended family.
Minister Akbar explained to the family that the Ministry has stepped in to help them find a new beginning in their lives.
The Minister has also gone to the extent of ensuring that the head of this family, Mr Chris Kumar is also assisted into paid employment.
Mr Kumar started his new job last week and is able to earn income on a weekly basis.
Minister Akbar has assured the family of the Ministry’s continued support to help them uplift their lives.
“The Ministry would like to make a positive difference into the lives of these children. We are here today because we genuinely care for these children and we want to help this family.
“Helping this family through employment opportunity will also improve their living status. The Ministry will continue to monitor their progress and help them get a new start in their lives. The welfare of these children is of great importance to the Ministry, the very reason we have come this far to ensure that the wellbeing and welfare of these children is not compromised under any circumstances,” Minister Akbar said.
Mr Kumar thanked Minister Akbar for being the first one to initiate these positive changes for his family.
“In all these years, we have continued to live in despair, not knowing when we will get a new life. I am grateful that we have a leader like, Minister Akbar for showing us the way forward, in all these 10 years we have lived here, she is the first one to come out and see the kind of conditions we live in and she has encouraged us to change our lives for better.
“Before I was just a casual labourer and supporting six children has been a challenge. The new employment has given a new start for me and my family. I am confident that through the new opportunities given to me, I will be able to improve the living conditions for my family. I sincerely thank the Hon. Minister and her team for reaching out and addressing the plight of my family,” Mr Kumar said.
To date the Ministry through its Coordinated Committee on Beggars has assisted 6 individuals who were found into street begging through equipping them with new skills and tools to venture into areas of vegetable selling, bean cart and catering. Mrs Siren Prasad has also been part of the catering project coordinated by the Ministry.
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- VISIT TO ACTIVATE YOUTH GROUPS
Two thousand five hundred (2500) youth groups in Fiji are registered under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.This was highlighted by the Hon. Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou in Somosomo Village in Taveuni this morning.
“From these 2500 youth groups we have only managed to visit 280 groups and some of these groups were active while others we have had to visit and reactivate them,” Minister Tuitubou said.
Minister Tuitubou said these active youth groups are the groups that have been following the Ministry’s programs.
“These programs are initiated by the government for the youths, to better develop their skills, earn income and improve their living standard,” Minister Tuitubou said.
He said these groups have also managed to grow due to the support of the Vanua and the church.
“These youths have ideas, have visions and if they are being supported by the Vanua and the church they will grow and advance with their projects,” Minister Tuitubou said.
Minister Tuitubou added that it is time to stop depending on government and youth must be ready to generate ideas and take initiative in the development of their various villages and settlements.
Principal Youth Officer Research and Development Iowane Soko advised that there were various programs under the Ministry and these programs have already been initiated.
“We have five training centres around Fiji and a training centre in the North trains youths with fibre glass and engine repairs whereby these youths receive certificates for their recognition,” Mr Soko said.
Mr Soko said other programs include Youth Empowerment training, special training for youths with special needs and youth grants for income generating projects.
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4. MINISTER ENCOURAGES YOUTHS TO DISCOVER TALENTS
“Fiji has talents that are yet to be discovered and it must be revealed with the right teachings”.These were the words of the Hon. Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou while addressing rugby and netball players of Taveuni in Welagi Village recently.
Minister Tuitubou said that government had noticed the great abundant skills and talent of youths in Fiji.
“Fiji has talents and they are yet to be touched and everyone must know that sports is important,” Minister Tuitubou said.
Minister Tuitubou said he carried a message that the Fiji Sevens coach Ben Ryan shared with him.
“When I had a conversation with Ben Ryan he said every coaches dream in the world is to coach the Fiji Sevens side, he said money is nothing because what we have is skills and talent,” Minister Tuitubou said.
“With the Sevens side we need to change something, and Ben told me it is attitude, mentality and communication,” Minister Tuitubou said.
He emphasised the need for all Fijian sportsmen and women to adapt and to accept change especially in their attitudinal and mental approach.
“Every player must know his or her purpose and that is the same for every youth group when they take part in sports, you must know your purpose,” Minister Tuitubou said.
Minister Tuitubou said that he held sports at heart and that he would always provide his support towards representative sporting teams to international tournaments.
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5. CONSULTATIONS WITH NORTH YOUTH
The Hon. Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou is holding consultations with registered youth groups in the Cakaudrove Province in the Northern Division this week.This is the Minister’s first visit to Taveuni, Qamea and Rabi since taking up the portfolio of Minister for Youth and Sports with his Ministry’s delegation.
Speaking in Welagi Village in Taveuni yesterday, Minister Tuitubou said the Ministry has a yearly program whereby they visit various youth groups, youth projects and programs around Fiji.
“After taking up this portfolio, I advised my staff that we change the way we worked and decided to visit youth programs, with these visits they voiced their concern as they were no longer interested in training programs,” Minister Tuitubou said.
He said from these visits, they began to hear voices of various youths and their needs in numerous areas.
“In this official tour, we are visiting registered youth clubs under the Ministry of Youth and Sports and some of these youth clubs are registered but are inactive,” Minister Tuitubou said.
He said these inactive youth clubs were a concern and they needed to find out what they were facing.
“We want to reactivate these clubs and get them to start coming up with ideas and projects that will benefit them for their future,” Minister Tuitubou said.
The Minister will be in Qamea Island on Tuesday.
Press Release