Caption: Ambassador Tuiloma and Ambassador Abreu at the signing earlier this month.
The first formal Government to Government Agreement was signed between Fiji and Brazil in a historic ceremony at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasilia, capital of Brazil earlier this month.
Fiji’s Ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Cama Tuiloma and the Director of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), Ambassador Fernando Abreu, signed the Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the Republic of Fiji. The Agreement is the result of negotiations between the two countries after the formalization of diplomatic relations in March 2012, and which aims to promote technical cooperation in the various areas of development identified by both countries.
In signing the Agreement, Ambassador Tuiloma conveyed the gratitude and appreciation of the Fijian Government and its commitment to the strengthening of relations and cooperation with Brazil. The signing of this bilateral agreement not only strengthens South-South Cooperation and builds on stronger relations and genuine friendship between Fiji and Brazil, but it opens the door for both countries to pursue effective partnership and to progress further on technical cooperation and sharing of information, and in this instance, meeting a crucial need in two very important sectors of the Fijian economy which is training and capacity building in agriculture and fisheries. Last August, a four member Brazilian Technical Team organized by ABC and headed by Ambassador Abreu was in Fiji with Ambassador Tuiloma on a fact-finding mission on areas of need in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. As part of the program, the team of experts visited a number of sites and facilities such as the Koronivia Research Station and the Naduruloulou Fisheries Station. At the end of the mission the team identified two training projects for Fiji, one for cassava production and the other for tilapia farming with a Brazilian budgetary provision of US$200,000. The signing of the Agreement will see the implementation of the two project proposals in early 2014.
Early this year, the Under Secretary-General of Political Affairs for Asia & Oceania, at the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations, Her Excellency, Ambassador Maria Edileuza Fontenele Reis, was in Fiji on an official visit accompanied by Ambassador Tuiloma, reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment in strengthening its bilateral ties and developing cooperation projects with Fiji. A significant commitment to this end is the proposed establishment of a Brazilian Embassy in Suva in 2014.
The Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) is affiliated to the Ministry of External Relations (MRE), and is responsible for all international technical cooperation involving Brazil and other countries or international organizations. ABC’s mandate is to negotiate, coordinate, implement and monitor technical cooperation projects and programs that stem from agreements signed between Brazil and other countries and international organizations. The Technical Cooperation Agreement is the first bilateral agreement that Fiji has signed with Brazil; other agreements are currently been negotiated and will also be signed in the not too distant future. Fiji through the Fiji Embassy in Brasilia is committed and working hand in with the Brazilian Government to strengthen bilateral relations in terms of support and partnership in the areas of development and technical cooperation and the goal is to build trust, develop genuine friendship and goodwill between our governments and our peoples.
MINFO