Canada opens High Commission in Suva

It is a historic day as Canada has opened a High Commission in Suva today.

There are around 25,000 Canadians of Fiji birth and more than 125,000 people of Fijian ancestry living in Canada which signifies a strong people-to-people link between Canada and Fiji.

During the opening of the High Commission in Suva this morning, Canada’s Secretary of State Sandeep Sarai says members of the Fijian diaspora in Canada, along with his own constituents, had advocated for a Canadian High Commission in the Fiji for many years.

Sarai says the mission represented more than a physical presence, describing it as a commitment to deeper engagement, closer cooperation and long-term partnership built on more than five decades of friendship between the two countries.

Recalling his first intervention in Canada’s House of Commons, Sarai says it was made on behalf of Fiji following the devastation caused by Category 5 Cyclone Winston in 2016. 

He says the appeal led to Canada providing US$1 million to help rebuild 5,000 homes destroyed by the cyclone.

Sarai says Canada has provided more than $500 million in support to the Pacific region since 2000, and two years ago committed a further $40 million to development programmes focused on women’s empowerment, gender equality, climate change adaptation, disaster resilience and environmental conservation.

He says Canada is partnering with organisations such as UN Women and Oxfam to promote inclusive economic and political systems, while initiatives such as the Kiwa Programme supported climate and environmental protection.

Canada is also involved in sustainable ocean management, combating illegal fishing, defence cooperation and expanding trade.

Sarai revealed that the two-way trade between Fiji and Canada reached $53 million in 2024, almost double the previous year.

Sarai says Canada hopes to significantly grow trade and investment opportunities in the coming years, in line with its broader strategy to diversify trade beyond North America.

Meanwhile, tourism links have also strengthened, with visitor numbers from Fiji to Canada doubling from 10,000 to more than 20,000 since the launch of direct Fiji Airways flights between Nadi and Vancouver.

Sarai highlighted Canada’s role in aviation training, with Canadian-made flight simulators now helping train more than 250 pilots annually in Fiji, creating a regional aviation training hub.

Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka congratulated the Government of Canada on the opening of the High Commission, describing it as a move to strengthen diplomatic ties and open new opportunities for cooperation in trade, climate action, education, development and people-to-people connections.

After 55 years of diplomatic relations, Ditoka says Fiji looks forward to working closely with the Canadian High Commission to advance shared interests and deliver tangible benefits for both nations.