SUNDAY APRIL 18, 2021 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 6 VOL 12 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ Fijijj Focus Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama receives his first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Captain Stanley Brown Naval Base at Walu Bay, Suva. Photo: NANISE NEIMILA PM: NCDs cause KILLER productivity losses of up to $400m a year NANISE NEIMILA most Pacific Island countries and Prime Minister Voreqe Baini- said, Fijians suffer from diabetes years of healthy living due to in particular for Fiji with 15 per marama, while speaking via a well above the global average. NCDs.” CRISISON-communicable dis- cent of the population diagnosed video message at the launch of “Fiji loses out on over $400 mil- eases (NCDs) have be- with Type 2 diabetes. the World Health Organization lion a year in productivity and our Ncome a major crisis for This was brought to the fore by Global Diabetes Compact, who people lose more than 264,000 CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj NATIONAL MATTERS phone: 3301806 Fijian Investment Policy State- Vision for ment and Investment Reform INSIDE Map.” dynamic The reforms are based on three private sector key pillars: Alignment of domes- tic laws and regulations with in- FELIX LESINAIVALU ternational best practice, revised MINISTER PRAISES FAITH- role of national Promotion Agen- BASED GROUP - 14 HE vision of the Fijian cy (IPA) laws and ease of doing HARVESTER BOOSTS Government is to create business. Minister Koya added FARMERS’ EFFORTS - 12 Ta dynamic private sector, his ministry is at the helm of all which invests, innovates and cre- the on-going changes and he is NORTH FARMERS GET CASH ates jobs. proud that Fiji is one of the pio- FOR CULTIVATION - 11 Minister for Commerce, Trade, neering Pacific nations, engaged Tourism and Transport Faiyaz A virtual meeting on the First Session and High-Level Segment: The World Trade in such rigorous reforms. WATER TANKS BOOST Koya, speaking at the First Ses- Organisation (WTO) negotiations of an Investment Facilitation Framework for Development “We started the journey with a FARM PRODUCTION - 10 sion and High-Level Segment: attended by the Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya. vision to “Transform Fiji”, and Photo: FELIX LESINAIVALU The World Trade Organisation now -- it is about rebuilding Fiji QUOTE OF THE WEEK (WTO) negotiations of an Invest- value chains - something we are preferred investment destination. and getting Fijians back to work ment Facilitation Framework for striving for world over.” “I’m pleased to say that the – with new quality of energy and Development virtual meeting Minister Koya added Fiji is also Fijian Ministry of Commerce, responsibility, whilst maintain- said, “Investments, especially, looked upon as the economic and Trade, Tourism and Transport, is ing our hub of the Pacific status.” inward foreign direct invest- technological hub of the Pacific leading the implementation of in- Also in attendance at the virtu- ments, can facilitate the entry of and is one of the region’s most vestment related reforms.” al session were the Minister for capital, technology and know- developed economies. “The mapping of the policies Tourism, Commerce, Trade Va- how, as well as diversification He said the Fijian Government and strategies were done through nuatu, James Bule, Head of Asia Voreqe into new sectors and activities”. is committed to maintaining its our Fijian Trade Policy Frame- Pacific, World Economic Forum Bainimarama. “This also fosters the integra- hub status and to manoeuvring work, trickling down to the de- (WEF), Joo-Ok Lee and other The world is a place tion of domestic firms into global Fiji towards a competitive and velopment of what is our first, trade ministers. where innovations and revolutionary solutions can spring up anywhere. I dare say that we are already developing solutions that can be exported anywhere. And that will be one more Minister Koya: Safety contribution that we make. Voreqe Bainimarama Prime Minister NUMBERS at sea ‘paramount’ $15, 500 AZARIA FAREEN HE Fijian Government places para- is the total amount of mount importance on safety at sea for money donated by the Tall Fijians by implementing strategies Sydney-based Fijian and programmes employed to raise aware- diaspora towards the ness, regulate and enforce laws in favour of Fijian Government’s safety. rehabilitation and recovery This was highlighted by the Minister for efforts following the Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, aftermaths of Tropical Faiyaz Koya while opening the 12th office of Cyclones Yasa and TC Ana the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) in Pacific Harbour recently. TWEET OF THE WEEK “Given our geographical dispersion; improv- ing inter-island marine transportation is essen- tial for our livelihoods, for trade, commerce and more importantly, it is our commitment in line with the 5-Year and 20-Year National De- velopment Plan (NDP),” Minister Koya said. “We are still investing in initiatives that we know matter to Fijians and that’s why this pro- Frank Bainimarama@FijiPM ject, valued at $20,000, is more than an invest- ment in an office space - it’s an investment in I will never forget the stories the maritime sector and our service to Fijians,” he added. my parents told me of Prince Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Faiyaz Koya and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural Philip’s visit to Fiji in 1953 “In our commitment to validate the phrase and Maritime Development David Kolitagane during the opening of the 12th office of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji and his warm embrace of “No Fijian is left behind”, the opening of this (MSAF) at Pacific Harbour recently. Photo: AZARIA FAREEN our islands in the years that new office is certainly the progression of Gov- routes - more than 80 franchise ports. sources need to be deployed each time there followed. Today, Fijians join ernment’s interest in ensuring that every sea- “We want to connect as many Fijians and is a search and rescue mission as lives are in the world in waving His Royal farer living along the Lami to Serua corridor goods and services across our islands and danger and safety has been compromised. Highness one final goodbye. and all its surrounding islands can access our this is why we introduced an additional route “Statistics from the Fiji Maritime Surveil- Loloma to the members of the services without having to travel all the way - Beqa, Yanuca and Vatulele, which began its lance Rescue Coordination Centre (FMRSCC) @RoyalFamily to Suva.” maiden voyage in February, this year,” Minis- managed by the Republic of Fiji Navy, record- “In decentralising services such as ship clear- ter Koya said. ed a total of 64 search and rescue operations CONTACT DETAILS ance to outer stations like this, we are deter- “This service is made to 14 villages with a last year alone. Of this figure, five cases were MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS mined to increase effectiveness in service de- population of 2,050 people (Beqa: 1,000, Ya- from this area,” he said. Main office: New Wing, Ground Floor, Government livery and also provide MSAF with the early nuca: 200 and Vatulele: 850) ensuring our peo- “From the cases reported, FMSRCC spent ap- Buildings,Suva signs of potential challenges faced by Fijians ple in the island communities have access to proximately $90,000 on these operations and North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu in areas that we serve in for a quick remedial transport services for movement of both pas- 165 persons were rescued, 52 were self-rescue action,” he added. sengers and important cargo.” and 11 have been declared missing at sea.” Contacts: Suva: 3301806 West: 6700086 Meanwhile, the Fijian Government has allo- Minister Koya said this must be looked at “I am pleading with all our seafarers, boat North: 8811276 cated a budget of $2.6 million to private vessel holistically to ensure all arms of the maritime masters and members of the public living in Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] operators and government shipping services sector work and complement each other. this area, please do take boat safety seriously,” @FijianGovt this financial year to serve 10 uneconomical He adds that it is a grave concern that re- he said. Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj 2 Sunday, April 18, 2021 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS Killer crisis Big turnout for COVID-19 vaccination these 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are You may also register online at vra.digitalfiji. FROM PAGE 1 OLLOWING the huge turnout at vacci- received. gov.fj nation sites across the country this week, Therefore, if you missed out on getting vac- You will need your Birth Registration Num- Putting it in context with Fthe Ministry of Health and Medical Ser- cinated this time, please stand by for the start of ber and a valid photo ID (Passport, Voter ID the current global pandem- vices previously announced that this phase of the next phase in the next 2 weeks. Card, FNPF Card, Driver’s License, Student ic, COVID-19, the Head of the campaign would end on Saturday April 17, Until then, please do continue to register to get ID, TIN Joint Card). The birth registration num- Government said knowing and even earlier on Friday April 16, for some vaccinated. Registering in advance will reduce ber is on your birth certificate. If you don’t have the risk that it posed, the Fi- sites, depending on availability of vaccines. your waiting time at future vaccination sites.