Kamikamica calls for unity in Parliament

Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica says if there is anyone in Parliament who is sowing seeds of division then his message to them is that they have no place in Parliament or the new Fiji.

While responding to the President’s speech in Parliament, Kamikamica says in the pursuit of progress and prosperity let us be guided by the principles of justice, equality, and compassion.

He says the President is really talking about rebuilding Fiji - from infrastructure, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, speeding up the green transition, updating and reviewing legislation and so forth.

Kamikamica says it's because of the mismanagement of the Opposition they have an unsustainable debt issue, a massive drug problem, a broken down health system and an education system that requires work.

He says they have a major task ahead of them and they can only solve these issues if they work together, starting with the Parliament.

The Deputy Prime Minister further says to ensure that Fiji continues to respond to evolving challenges of cybersecurity, they are making preparations to accede to the Budapest Convention and a review of the ICT Department is being undertaken from a cybersecurity and service delivery perspective.

He says as part of their commitments under the Vuvale Partnership, they will be shortly executing a Cybersecurity Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Government which will provide the framework for cooperation amongst various agencies.

Kamikamica also says they are actively developing the National Digital Strategy, Cybersecurity strategy which will harness the Government’s push for digitization.

The Deputy Prime Minister says they intend to operationalise the National Computer Emergency Response Team within the next few months.

He says last November, he had advised Parliament that he would be presenting a paper to Cabinet on the establishment of a nationwide Taskforce to combat Pornography and they will also be inviting the Opposition to join them in this mission.

The Deputy Prime Minister has also highlighted that in 2023 their Trade Commission based in Australia and New Zealand facilitated over $70 million in exports to these markets which is an increase of over 15 percent on the previous year, adding approximately 8.5 percent to the value of Fiji’s overall exports to Australia and New Zealand.

He says this year, the Trade Commission aims to increase facilitated exports by a further 20 percent.

Kamikamica says they are planning a Fiji - North America Business Mission this year, aiming to visit potentially 4 states in North America and Canada, fostering investment and trade opportunities.

He says there are 100,000 diasporas in Canada.

Kamikamica says Trade Commission North America has also been instrumental in supporting Fiji’s exporters and conducting market research for key export products to North America which includes facilitating the purchase of over 50 metric tons of mature ginger by the Ginger People, providing a much-needed market for Fijian farmers.

The Deputy Prime Minister adds that for China, they recently secured some potential investors - estimated around US$45 million covering noni commercial farming and forestry apart from developing potential areas for investment with interested parties.