Over 60,000 Northerners to benefit from World Bank funded Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu

Over 60,000 people in Vanua Levu are expected to benefit from the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu after the Fiji Government today signed the Agreement for Program worth US$200 million with the World Bank Group.

The program was approved by the World Bank Board of Directors in June this year and it is one of the largest World Bank-supported projects in the country.

This program is part of a longer-term 10-year strategy to boost the Fiji Tourism Industry Sector in Vanua Levu.

Speaking on behalf of the Government, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad acknowledged the continued partnership the World Bank has had with Fiji for a long time.

He says the World Bank's concerted effort to engage and support Fiji during COVID, particularly in the area of concessional financing and World Bank is now Fiji’s second largest internal lender.

Professor Prasad says the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu is a very important project, and he is confident that Fiji has the right man leading the Tourism Ministry, who will deliver on time and in a very effective manner.

He adds that US$61.5 million will fund the first phase of the project and this is part of the larger package and is a 10-year multi-state tourism program for Vanua Levu

The Deputy Prime Minister says it is a project that is going to combine the development of infrastructure, particularly the upgrade of Labasa and Savusavu Airport, and it will also involve the upgrade of the road between Savusavu and Labasa, which is a significant road and it will open up economic activities that are going to be extremely well linked to the Tourism industry.

World Bank Group East Asia Pacific Region Vice President Manuela Ferro says this program is an important element of their program here in Fiji because it brings together several aspects of development that will ensure people's lives are uplifted.

She says this is her first trip to Fiji, and she is here to see how World Bank projects and advice can be helpful for this country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Viliame Gavoka, says the crux of this program is to mobilise investments in resilient infrastructure and essential services to create a more enabling business environment and enhance institutional coordination.