City Case Studies: Asia and the Pacific Region Case Study: Suva, Fiji Asia and thePacific Region during andafter COVID-19 Building UrbanEconomic Resilience City Case Studies: Asia and the Pacific Region Suva, Fiji Suva, Primary, Capital Primary, 2,048 km² 93,970 (2017) Area inhabitants of Number Status Suva City Council. Suva Source: Pre-existing Challenges Pre-existing bridges, and electricity, such as water, infrastructure key often damages which minor seasonally faces cyclones, Suva particulara security and of women are safety The business of people and operations. movement the all of which affect people seeking from season. Furthermore, during the cyclone urban migration centres concern, especially at evacuation better opportunities on housing and other public services of the city. in the capital places pressure City Case Studies: Asia and the Pacific Region classes. Asof6November 34confirmedcases,with31 recoveries 2020,Suva hasreported and2deaths. wereclosed. Schools reopenedand universitiesyear30, for June on reopenedalso students and 13 12 face-to-face for people. Gyms, fitness centres, cinemas, and swimming pools were reopened on 22 June; however, nightclubs remained weddings,funerals,including June. Socialgathering, cafes, restaurants, wereand worship, increased fromto 20 100 new nationwidecurfewFiji announced fromJune, On 21 hours topm 11.00 which cameintoam, 4.00 effect22 on COVID-19 hadrecovered. quarantined andtowho werethose currently14-dayinitial awaiting their all theaffectedJune, period. By5 peoplewith June. 15 closed until of thequarantineThe extension periodwasraised to 28daysanyonefor both who wasnewly governmentalso renewed wereand ended curfewam. Schools at 5 pm the national 8 that beganat hours to remain April. The effective 3 lockdown a into go Suva to prompted which Suva, from cases 2 confirmed Fiji April, 2 On March. March,27 On curfewa nationwide announced fromMinister the Prime topm 10 takewould that pm 5 effect30 on 8 fever clinicsaround thecountry. flights, and all shipping services were ceased after confirmation of the 5th case in Lautoka. The government established supermarkets,banks, remainedbusinesses and essential pharmacies, all international suspended open.FijiAirways however, closed; were found, were cases first the where Lautoka, in businesses non-essential and schools all March, anywhere eventsand international wereFiji, in ships banned from also were berthing prohibited.20 of Bymidnight In February,the government of Fijitoughened borderand implementedtravel security to bans Cruise majorcountries. Brief description of COVID-19 inthecity Case Study: Suva, Fiji after almostadecadeofeconomicgrowth. Due to COVID-19 Bank ofFijiforecastedthe Reserve pandemic, would fallintoeconomy thatthedomestic arecession Main economic andfinancial impacts Deaths Recovered Confirmed First reported case Data from 6 November 2020 6 November from Data closed andstocks were notinhand,whichaffected ofcompanies. theperformance Procurementand clubs. was a werechallenge shops resorts, forotherbusinesses as most shops, tourism.which highlydependson division, the western was in retailinclude Closed businesses werebusinesses Most affected byclosure thepandemicandhad Major closed downtheirshops. Business Environment rawsince alsosawadownturn industry and resorts. The construction were materials out. running bytravel theCOVID-19 in pandemic.Unemploymentwas reported industry,retail factories, shops, organizationLabour The International Fijian workersestimated that115,000 have beenaffected Labour Market 2 31 34 9 March 2020 As of November 2020 City Case Studies: Asia and the Pacific Region − − − − − All partners All contribute equally − − − − − Private Private stakeholders important more Central Central government important more Local Local government important more − − − − − Economic Governance Economic 0.50 %. Local authorities 0.25 % from to policy rate its overnight The ReserveFiji reduced bank of budgetary use their to allowed municipalities COVID-19. surpluses specifically with Financial Environment Financial Due to businesses closing down, people were out of jobs, which in return affected their financial deferred been loans have and optingnow money, other means of earning for were People wellbeing. by financial institutions. Fiji National ProvidentFund (FNPF)reduced its company and employee contribution. Contribution of different sectors in the management (e.g. planning, reallocation, and reallocation, (e.g. planning, in the management sectors different of Contribution crisis during the COVID-19 resources relevant of mobilisation) Economic governance governance Economic arrangements Institutional responsiveness* Business environment environment Financial Labour markets Labour While the Suva City Council (SCC) has not set its focus on establishing a crisis management plan specific for COVID-19 has not set its focus on establishing a crisis management plan specific for COVID-19 City Council (SCC) While the Suva and tsunamis, among disasters such as a cyclones to respond understanding of how to a general have pandemic, they others. confinement and social distancing, while also enabling the continuity ensure to used digital tools During the crisis, Suva accessibility, in public transport safety, of certain also saw improvement Suva services economicand activity virtually. kits main public transport the Suva station, safety information. At public and healthcare social distancing measures, that members of the ensure to mobilized agencies were and law enforcement provided, were such as hand sanitizers the Ministry put in place by public comply with the precautionary of Health. measures urban governments, regional and central including the of actors, range with a SCCcollaborating been The has implement short-term to multiple dimensions of in order to and citizens and long-term responses stakeholders, the emergencies to respond effectively to was crucial for Suva crisis. Dialogue with the local government COVID-19 and was residents, of essential services the Suva to the provision in the early of stages the pandemic. SCC ensured COVID-19. use its budgetary address to allowed to surpluses specifically adjustments, such as the suspension support SMEs. of seasonal ban Policy on to was also government There provided fight economic hardship to also implemented been had grouper, and trout harvestthe consumption sale and of coral on startingsome regulations encourage a business to has relaxed The government pandemic. during the COVID-19 a the Council has given the local level, open up businesses that could sustain them during the pandemic. At locals to of income. as their major source that normally depend on tourism operators handicraft to concession monthly rate Crisis Response and Recovery Measures Measures and Recovery Crisis Response * Local government business continuity, adequate fiscal space, and uninterrupted delivery of key public serviceskey fiscal space, and uninterrupted delivery adequate of business continuity, * Local government City Case Studies: Asia and the Pacific Region challenges. and target broader developmentsupport down public would need to pandemic has passed.Countries this wind there wouldbeaquicker returnto creation business after private sector andto getmoney directly to peoplesothat reignite growth. to maintainthe This includesefforts targeted place very in putting measures stimulus to help and strengtheningentail and long-term healthservices, realisesSCC topolicies that rebuild the short- in both recovery. withprivateare sectors looking forward tofor partnering measures stage.However, atthis moving theyforward, recovery unabletoand thus up initiatives put to support itself isaffectedas SCC by COVID-19 due to revenue loss, responsesMost are directly from the central government, Central government financial support Expanding theuseof digital technology earning lessthan$30,000perannum). their employees (applied to workers tosalaries employers paywho cannot positivecoronavirus, for and to reimburse towho have low-incomeFijians tested agreed topay days21 COVID-19 leave duty. thegovernment Furthermore, income tax,VAT, customsact, andstamp and reduction intaxadministration, governmentgranted waivers,allowances, employeethe addition,In contribution. loweredand contribution company its the FijiNationalProvident Fund (FNPF) To those affected by the crisis, support connectivity. package deals toand internet expand quick to provide cheap communication as Vodafonesuch andDigicelwere customers.providers Communication where they to candohomedelivery encouraged to provide mobileservice payment.Restaurant operators were also were introduced foronlinepurchase and measures.distancing social Newapps the lockdown period,aswell as to support even during virtually activity economic and services of certain the continuity Suva used digital technologiesto enable

City Case Studies: Asia and the Pacific Region

during and after COVID-19 and after during Building Urban Economic Resilience Resilience Economic Urban Building