Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has highlighted the need for the Commonwealth’s full backing of new and innovative financial tools to advance an inclusive and sustainable recovery for Small Islands Developing States.
While speaking during the 21st Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Minister’s Meeting, Bainimarama also acknowledged the Commonwealth’s commitment towards global recovery efforts and advancing Sustainable Development Goals.
Bainimarama also called for the need to remain clear-eyed about raising productivity, boosting competitiveness, and creating new opportunities for market access, particularly for the Small Islands Developing States.
The Prime Minister also spoke on the importance of achieving equitable access to healthcare and resources to build resilient health systems, where the Commonwealth can be a beacon for cooperation that ensures the next crisis brings out the best of our multilateral system.
In his statement on “The Road to COP26 and Commonwealth Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change,” Bainimarama says Fiji and our Pacific island neighbours are embracing the goal of region-wide green and blue economies by creating a sustainable future in the midst of a healthy and sustainable Pacific Ocean.
He says while the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been devastating for us, recovery can be an opportunity to do better—to build back greener, bluer, and stronger, and take the action for a sustainable, cleaner, inclusive and more resilient future.
Reaffirming Fiji’s commitment to climate mandate, Bainimarama says Fiji is leading by example and is proud to be one of the first countries to develop a National Adaptation Plan, and one of the few countries to incorporate its National Adaptation Plan into its 2020 updated Nationally Determined Contributions.
He says there is urgent work that remains unfinished, and we must go to COP26 resolved to finalise the outstanding elements of the Paris Rulebook.
