Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Sakiasi Ditoka says years of neglect have affected Fiji's diplomatic properties overseas, and restoring them now comes at a greater cost.
While supporting the 2026-2027 National Budget, Ditoka says when the government assumed office, it inherited not only economic challenges but also years of accumulated neglect across many areas of government.
He says this neglect was visible not only in Fiji's hospitals, health centres, government quarters and public infrastructure, but also in Fiji's diplomatic properties abroad.
INSERT: Ditoka on neglect 13th July
The Minister says the government has now begun restoring Fiji's chanceries and official residences overseas, describing them as strategic national assets that Fiji has a responsibility to preserve.
He says the Opposition often speaks about the size of the national debt but seldom acknowledges why some of today's expenditure has become necessary.
He says had these assets been properly maintained during their years in office, taxpayers would not now be carrying the much greater cost of restoring them.
On the 2026-2027 National Budget, Ditoka says the $56.6 million allocation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is a strategic investment in Fiji's sovereignty, economic resilience and global voice.
He says this is not an easy budget; the economic ground is undulating and opportunities are unequal.
However, he says the budget aspires to ensure that this government continues to invest in our people, strengthen essential public services, and lay the foundations for long-term economic resilience.
Ditoka says Fiji's foreign policy must deliver practical benefits for its people.
He says every market we open, all the investors we try to attract, every development partnership we secure and every Fijian we assist overseas, strengthens our sovereignty, our security and our prosperity.
He says Fiji cannot afford to be a passive observer in an increasingly uncertain world.
Ditoka says the budget will also support the reopening of Fiji's diplomatic mission in Brussels and the mission in Jerusalem with a budget allocation of $6.3 million.
He says that when global decisions are made about global agendas such as trade, security, and climate, Fiji is not merely waiting for the aftermath, but we are actively at the table protecting our national interests.
He says Fiji's overseas missions are the face of the country, and every visa facilitated, development partnership secured and citizen assisted contributes directly to national development.
He says the Budget includes initiatives to modernise Fiji’s overseas infrastructure, ensuring diplomats have the resources needed to carry out their work effectively.
Ditoka is calling on diplomats to bring back the return on investment that Fiji expects of them for the benefit of its people.
He says that while the Ministry will operate within tighter expenditure limits, its core responsibility of protecting Fiji’s national interests abroad will not be compromised.
