Naivalurua gets Communications portfolio, Immanuel sworn in as Finance, Commerce Minister

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Ioane Naivalurua will now oversee the Communications portfolio.

Mr Naivalurua is now Minister for Policing and Communications, following a realignment of ministerial responsibilities aimed at streamlining government operations.

The Communications portfolio, previously under the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, MSMEs, and Communications, has now been transferred to the Ministry of Policing.

Mr Rabuka made the announcement following the swearing-in of Esrom Immanuel, who officially assumed his role today as Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development.

Mr Immanuel will oversee functions previously held by both the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, and the Ministry of Trade.

Key changes include:

• The Ministry of Finance will now operate as a standalone ministry.
• Strategic Planning, National Development, and Statistics will remain under the Prime Minister’s portfolio.
• External trade responsibilities will move to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Domestic trade, cooperatives, investment, MSMEs, and business development will now fall under the newly established Ministry of Commerce and Business Development.

The permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister will coordinate with the permanent secretaries for Finance, Trade, Policing, and Foreign Affairs, along with the Public Service Commission, to ensure a smooth transition of staffing and budgetary responsibilities.