Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum discussed opportunities for investment in support of sustainable livelihoods during a meeting with the World Bank Country Director of Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands, East Asia and Pacific Region, Stephen Ndegwa, and the Regional Operations Manager, Paul Vallely, on Easter Sunday afternoon.

The meeting covered a range of geopolitical challenges affecting Fiji and the Pacific which are impacting inflation, freight, and livelihoods, as well as new opportunities for Fiji’s post-COVID recovery.

“Our meeting focused on solutions to the global events that are disproportionately affecting small states like Fiji,” Mr Sayed- Khaiyum said.

“We can achieve long-term resilience to these external shocks by investing now in sustainable livelihoods.”

“We specifically discussed the revival of the Vanua Levu programme after pandemic-imposed delays, which is a focused plan to grow the Vanua Levu economy, invest in new infrastructure, develop sustainable tourism, create jobs, and grow the commercial agricultural sector.”

A World Bank Vanua Levu-focused team is expected to be in Fiji within the next couple of weeks.

The A-G acknowledged the World Bank in facilitating the IDA funds over the past new years which met access to highly concessional loans which has ends up having a grant component.

He also thanked the World Bank for its facilitation in the recent IMF mission.

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