In a statement delivered in parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica announced that Fiji will take on the role of Deputy to the United States on the Labor Rights Advisory Council (LRAC) as part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
This new position is expected to enhance the bilateral relationship between Fiji and the other 14 member countries of the council, reinforcing global supply chains.
Kamikamica expressed enthusiasm about Fiji’s election to this role, emphasizing that it provides an opportunity for active involvement in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, which was established by the Biden Administration in late 2022 to address disruptions in global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also highlighted that Jone Nemani, the Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations in Fiji, will serve as Vice-Chair of the LRAC, assisting the Chair from the U.S.
Moreover, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that Fiji intends to take part in a supply chain summit scheduled for September 2024 in Washington, D.C., organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Kamikamica reiterated that Fiji’s participation in IPEF aims to foster economic growth, enhance labor standards, and strengthen supply chain resilience for a prosperous future.