The Ministry of Fisheries now owns two ice-plants in Navua and Rakiraki respectively, and a seven-ton truck.

It follows a hand over by the Overseas Fisheries Co-operation Foundation of Japan (OFCF).

Resident Representative Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan (OFCF) Fiji Office, Shimamoto Kunikazu, said the donation was part of their contribution to protecting and boosting the fisheries industry in Fiji and the Pacific.

“We do not want to simply exploit marine resources in this region, but want to contribute to sustainable fisheries development.

“Japan is one of the distant water fishing nations operating in the Pacific Ocean and always wants to be responsible for what it does.”

Mr Kunikazu said: “Two ice making machines in Navua and Rakiraki, including necessary refrigerant, tools and materials cost more than $420,000 with an addition of more than $3000 for installments and repairs.

“The other project was the Fisheries Development Assistance for Pacific Island Nations Phase Seven (FDAPIN) that donated the seven-ton truck that cost more than $200,000.”

Fiji for now
Through FDAPIN, OFCF will provide nine Pacific island countries with technical assistance thorugh maintenance and restoration of fisheries-related facilities.

The countries are Fiji, Federated State of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

“We normally send our technical experts to all these countries every year, but Fiji is the only country that we can make it to do so in this Japanese fiscal year.”

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