Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica will take on the role of acting Prime Minister while Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is in Tokyo, Japan, attending the 10th Summit of the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM10).
This marks Rabuka’s return to the PALM Summit, having led the Fiji Government delegation when the first summit was held in 1997. Rabuka expressed his anticipation for collaborating with leaders from the 18 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to reinforce the forum’s vision of a resilient Pacific region characterized by peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity.
The PALM10 Summit aims to build a stronger, more resilient Pacific region by renewing the partnership between Japan and the Pacific countries, ensuring that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives. Discussions will focus on aligning the implementation of the PIF Leaders’ 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, addressing climate action, environmental challenges, people-centered economic development, and advancements in technology and connectivity.
Rabuka is scheduled for numerous official engagements, including a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This meeting is expected to further enhance the diplomatic relations between Fiji and Japan, which have grown to encompass crucial areas such as climate change, disaster risk management, health, and social and economic development.
The two leaders will also discuss the contributions of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan International Cooperation System (JICS), which have empowered communities in Fiji through various development programs over the years.
Accompanying the Prime Minister are Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister Pita Wise, Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development Isoa Talemaibua, and Chief Executive for Investment Fiji Kamal Chetty. The PALM10 Summit starts today and concludes on Thursday.