1. SPORTS COMMISSION TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – THE newly established Fiji Sport Commission will create new direction for sports, the Minister for Youth and Sports Commander Viliame Naupoto said today.
2. ECONOMIC BOOST FOR NAITASIRI WOMEN – For the women of Nacokaika, Natoaika, Nakini and Delaidamanu villages in Naitasiri province, the recent donation of sewing machines by the Ministry of Women is an opportunity for the women in these communities to start their own businesses.
3. MINISTER KUBUABOLA PROMOTES FIJI IN GUANGZHOU CITY – Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola today visited Guangzhou city in the province of Guangdong to meet with Chinese investors and officials from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1 SPORTS COMMISSION TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
THE newly established Fiji Sport Commission will create a new direction for sports in the country, the Minister for Youth and Sports Viliame Naupoto said today.
The Sports Commission is Government’s vision of investing into Fiji’s sporting sector to allow every Fijian to have access to sporting facilities.
“The beneficiary of this new Government initiative (The Sports Commission) will not only be the sporting organisation itself, but will include the growth of sports in our communities for both the young and old,” he said.
Minister Naupoto highlighted that sporting development has proven to promote community development and national building.
“The future for the Sports Commission and the direction we take depends on working together and consultation with Fiji’s established sporting organisations, our sports people, and our communities.”
The establishment of the Commission was through Government’s realisation that Fiji’s sports people contribute substantially to the nation’s economy.
Peter Mazey will take on the role of the Chairperson of the Board and in the interim will act as the Executive Chairperson until the Board appoints a Chief Executive Officer for the Fiji Sports Commission.
“Three more members from the sporting federations would be added to the names announced today,” Minister Naupoto said.
Government has allocated $1.5 million to set up a National Sports Commission to oversee and coordinate sporting development throughout the country.
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2 ECONOMIC BOOST FOR NAITASIRI WOMEN
For the women of Nacokaika, Natoaika, Nakini and Delaidamanu villages in Naitasiri province, the recent donation of sewing machines by the Ministry of Women is an opportunity for the women in these communities to start their own businesses.
The Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luveni recently visited these villages to participate in informal talks with the women and community leaders. These visits by the Minister provide an opportunity for her to hear firsthand key concerns raised by the women. During these sessions, Minister Luveni is able to discuss government’s own support process for these communities and how women can tap into various assistance programs.
Nacokaika Women president Mrs Lusiana Keretabua said the donation will be a source of income generating for Naitasiri women who mostly collect and sell Kai or freshwater mussels in the Suva market.
“Today we are really happy, as this is the first time for any minister to come to our village. The women wake up as early as 4am to travel down all the way to Suva market to sell the kai. The sewing machines have given us hope, it will help us to develop our tailoring skills and sew, sell school uniforms.
“We can save money, as sometimes we have to travel to Suva to have the clothes sewn. The women are confident to collect money from tailoring and start a poultry project in the village. The donation from the ministry will help us to fulfill this plan,” she said.
Nacokaika Turaga ni Koro (village headman) Mr Leveni Vudinibola applauded government’s effort to create economic opportunities in rural communities.
“We are grateful to the Minister for providing us with this donation and most importantly for her speech. It has motivated the villagers that we can alleviate poverty and improve our lives through developing our resources particularly in agriculture, livestock and fisheries sector.
“We want the Bainimarama government to continue even after elections, because we can finally see the improvements in roads, and electricity, assistance for old people, where those who are 70 years qualify for social pension. This government has provided numerous opportunities to support women into income generating, today is an evidence of their commitment,” Mr Leveni Vudinibola added.
The president of the Natoaika village, Sekoveti Rauawu revealed that the sewing machines will enable the women to sew school uniforms for the children.
“Given our isolated location, we find it very expensive to get school uniforms for children. We are so glad that with our own sewing machines now, we can sew school uniforms for 100 children who attend the Natoaika Primary school,” she said.
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3 MINISTER KUBUABOLA PROMOTES FIJI IN GUANGZHOU CITY
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola today visited Guangzhou city in the province of Guangdong to meet with Chinese investors and officials from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Kubuabola was hosted by Mr Qian Xuequan a prominent businessman in Guangzhou who has been appointed by Government to assist in the promotion of Fiji on a voluntary basis to potential investors from the province.
Mr Xuequan also has a registered business in Fiji that has an office in Guangzhou as well. During his visit, Minister Kubuabola also visited a piece of land that Mr Xuequan is planning to develop and build a high rise building that could also house a Fiji Consulate Office.
“Guangdong is a very special place for Fiji because this is the home of the first Chinese descendants that travelled to Fiji over 200 years ago. It is also special to us because it is the sister city of Suva”, Minister Kubuabola said.
“This province is the business hub of China. Last year, the GDP for the Guangdong alone was US$900 billion. The majority of Chinese outbound travellers are from this province. These show the amount of opportunities that is in this province which Fiji can take full advantage of,” he added.
During his visit, Minister Kubuabola also met Mr Zhang Weidong, the Deputy Director General of the Guangdong Foreign Affairs office to discuss developments in relations between Fiji and the province.
In line with the desire of both Governments to increase people to people exchange between their two countries, Minister Kubuabola was hosted to a reception where he emphasised the commitment by the Fijian Government to provide an investment friendly environment for all investors and also invited those present to visit Fiji when they can to see first-hand the opportunities that Fiji provides.
Minister Kubuabola will be leaving Guangzhou city tomorrow and was accompanied by Fiji’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Esala Teleni and other foreign affairs officials.
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