A World Bank team that will focus on Vanua Levu is expected to be in Fiji within the next couple of weeks.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum met with the World Bank Country Director of Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands, East Asia and Pacific Region, Stephen Ndegwa, and the Regional Operations Manager, Paul Vallely yesterday afternoon.
Sayed-Khaiyum says they specifically discussed the revival of the Vanua Levu programme after pandemic-imposed delays, which is a focused plan to grow the Vanua Levu economy, invest in new infrastructure, develop sustainable tourism, create jobs, and grow the commercial agricultural sector.
He says their meeting also focused on solutions to the global events that are disproportionately affecting small states like Fiji.
Sayed-Khaiyum says they can achieve long-term resilience to these external shocks by investing now in sustainable livelihoods.
He also acknowledged the World Bank in facilitating the International Development Association funds over the past few years which met access to highly concessional loans and has a grant component.
The meeting also covered a range of geopolitical challenges affecting Fiji and the Pacific which are impacting inflation, freight, livelihoods, as well as new opportunities for Fiji's post-COVID recovery.
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