Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka participated in a high-level meeting with Pacific Island leaders and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga yesterday. The meeting took place during the Pacific Island Forum and highlighted the collaboration between the Forum member countries and the World Bank, the largest and oldest multilateral development bank based in Washington.
Banga’s official visit includes Fiji, Tuvalu, and Australia from September 4 to 10, 2024, marking the first visit of this nature in half a century. This gathering provided Pacific leaders with a platform to engage directly with the World Bank and gain insights into the institution’s strategies and approaches.
The leaders discussed priorities related to economic prosperity, climate resilience, and sustainable development, aiming to enhance the livelihoods and quality of life for people in the Pacific region. The conversation also focused on future financing from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and the significant replenishment of IDA resources, essential for addressing the increasing needs in the area.
Key regional initiatives such as the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the draft Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED) served as the foundation for the discussions. Prime Minister Rabuka expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its role in infrastructure improvements and its ongoing support of Fiji’s development.
He emphasized the World Bank’s renewed commitment to the Pacific, particularly in crucial areas like health, infrastructure, and job creation, which align with the development objectives of Fiji and the broader Pacific region. Rabuka welcomed potential initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth, enhancing climate resilience, and improving connectivity, sustainable tourism, and investment in essential sectors such as healthcare, education, energy, agriculture, and fisheries.
The Prime Minister reiterated Fiji’s commitment to regional solidarity and expressed hope that the partnership with the World Bank would lead to concrete results for the development of the Pacific. In his address, President Banga appreciated the leadership demonstrated by Pacific leaders and reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the region’s economic and climate resilience priorities.
The meeting ended positively, with a collective commitment to developing an Outcome Statement and a joint action plan addressing key Pacific priorities in line with the 2050 Strategy and the draft PRED. Attendees included Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni of Tonga, Baron Waqa, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia, along with other regional leaders, some of whom joined virtually.