Fiji commends ADB for its support

Fiji has commended the Asian Development Bank for its timely support with the policy-based financing of FJ$407.3 million and its cooperation and willingness to work with other development partners.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said this while speaking at the Governors Business Session that was held on the margins of the 54th Annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors in a virtual meeting.

Sayed-Khaiyum says through such partnerships with other development partners (AIIB and JICA) Fiji will be able to quickly access an additional FJ$305.5 million financing.

The virtual session featured speaker representatives from within ADB.

Furthermore, to the assistance ADB offers Fiji, Sayed-Khaiyum has offered Fiji’s continuous support to continue working with the ADB on future policy-based financing packages to support our national budget and continue the significant progress of national reforms.

He also thanked the ADB for the non-sovereign support provided to Fiji Airways via a FJ$132.4 million loan.

Two loans were approved for Fiji over the reporting period between May 2020 to April 2021 to support ongoing private-sector-led growth policy reforms, particularly in the face of COVID-19 pandemic impacts.

He also highlighted other areas of assistance offered by ADB which is using ADB’s catalytic role to support Fiji in achieving ambitious climate targets.

ADB Executive Director Syurkani Ishak Kasim presented the Constituency Annual Report for the 12-month period from May 2020 to April 2021.

Kasim highlighted that COVID-19 continues to be the most immediate challenge facing the region and they remain committed to ensuring ADB is responsive to constituency members’ needs.