THROUGH the elevated Vuvale Partnership between Fiji and Australia, the Australian government will invest $147.6million ($A100m) in the five-year Australia-Pacific Partnership for the Aviation Program (P4A).
The program is expected to begin later this year.
The initiative was announced by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy during a joint media conference in Lautoka yesterday.
Aside from announcing the multi-million dollar program, Mr Rabuka and Mr Conroy also signed a memorandum of understanding between Fiji and Australia on ports infrastructure and services and an agreement on cyber security cooperation.
“We will work with Pacific countries to build a safer and more resilient aviation sector,” Mr Conroy said.
He said Fiji would be the regional hub for the program.
The Australian minister said the MoU between Fiji and Australia on ports infrastructure and services would enable greater cooperation in Fiji’s maritime sector and demonstrate Australia’s commitment to working to build port infrastructure and services including ship building and ship repairing.
“The Australian government is investing up to $A10million for infrastructure master plan for the CWM Hospital that I know is such an important facility for Fiji.
“In recognition of Prime Minister Rabuka and his Government’s passionate support of education and advocacy for young people in Fiji, we are increasing Australian Awards Pacific Scholarship offered annually to Fijian students from 12 in 2024 to 50 in 2025.”
Mr Rabuka said the signing signified an important milestone in the elevated Vuvale Partnership between the two countries.
“The MoU on ports infrastructure and services outlines the framework for cooperation with regards to preparation of investment into Fiji’s ports infrastructure and services which will be managed by Fiji Ports Limited.”
