Fiji’s High Commissioner To PNG Welcomed

Fiji’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Jackson Bernard Nato Evans was welcomed at the Fiji High Commission Chancery in Port Moresby, over the weekend.

While delivering his opening remarks during the traditional welcoming ceremony, Mr Evans acknowledged the Fijian diaspora for the kind gesture and hospitality, reaffirming his commitment to further deepen bilateral relations and cooperation between Fiji and PNG.

Mr Evans is also the accredited High Commissioner to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

He acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, the late Mosese Tikoitoga, who died on December 2023.

Fiji closed its PNG High Commission around December 2020 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The High Commission was reopened in early 2023 by the Coalition Government.

The Fiji High Commission in PNG is strategically positioned to advance shared priorities on regional peace, security and prosperity as outlined in Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper.

Mr Evans is the ninth High Commissioner to PNG.

Strengthening ties

About 33 Fijian war heroes, along with Fiji’s Victoria Cross (VC) recipient, Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, were buried in Rabaul, East New Britain Province.

Economic cooperation between the two countries continues to expand with cross-investments between Fiji and PNG companies.

This includes Mineral Resources Development Company’s (MRDC) multi-million dollar investment in Pacific Harbour and other financial institutions such as the Bank South Pacific (BSP) and Credit Corp.

Fiji also played a pivotal role towards the establishment of Vodafone and other businesses in PNG.

Other Fijian-based businesses such as Jack’s of Fiji and Prouds are trading freely in PNG and this is a good sign of free and fair trade in an open economy, stimulating economic growth and trade relations between both countries.

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