Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Sakiasi Ditoka has defended Government’s overseas travel, saying diplomatic engagements secured fuel supply assurances and an $A20million ($F31.1m) Australian grant during the Gulf conflict.
Mr Ditoka told Parliament that trips to Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and Australia were undertaken on the directive of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to protect Fiji’s fuel supply amid disruptions caused by the conflict.
He said Singapore assured Fiji that its fuel supply lines would not be interfered with, while Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the grant to help Fiji manage the crisis.
“The result of the fuel diplomacy speaks for itself, as we have not experienced any delay or shortage of fuel supply during the peak of the fuel price crisis,” he said.
Mr Ditoka said the engagements had also prompted plans to enlarge Fiji’s fuel reserves to guard against future disruptions and strengthen regional fuel security.
However, Opposition Member of Parliament, Rinesh Sharma questioned the returns from overseas travel, citing 182 international trips costing $2.6million between May 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026.
He challenged the Government to show which missions had opened markets for products such as dalo, cassava, ginger and fish.
Mr Ditoka said foreign relations could not be conducted solely from Suva, but delegations should remain lean, engagements combined and virtual meetings used where practical
