Govt eyes Quad support for key Fiji infrastructure projects

Major infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of Suva Port, a convention centre in Suva and the expansion of Nausori Airport, are being considered under potential support arrangements linked to the Quad partnership and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the Government initially planned to undertake the projects through funding from development partners, but support from multilateral partners, including the Quad and MCC, had been encouraging.

He said Fiji would submit its voluntary report to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July next year, with the projects forming part of the country’s development agenda.

“The big one that we have in mind is the Suva Port, whether we can fit it into that or whether we will still move ahead looking at public-private partnerships based on the plans we already have,” Mr Rabuka said.

“We have other things and one of them is a big convention centre in Suva. Another is the development of Nausori into a fully international-standard airport.

“We are thinking of naming that the Kingsford Smith International Airport, named after the pilot who made the first trans-Pacific flight.”

Mr Rabuka said the partnership with the Quad and MCC was aimed at helping Fiji address development challenges, including climate change, slow economic growth, unemployment and productivity.

He said the engagement aligned with the Government’s broader priorities of strengthening economic resilience, improving infrastructure, promoting private sector-led growth, creating employment opportunities, enhancing trade competitiveness and improving the ease of doing business in Fiji.

Mr Rabuka also clarified that the partnership was not linked to military co-operation.

The Quad is a diplomatic partnership involving the United States, Australia, India and Japan focused on promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.