FRCS chief executive officer Udit Singh said the milestone positions Fiji as a credible and trustworthy partner globally.

Move could strengthen Fiji’s transit market during low travel periods.

Fiji Development Bank has since issued the reminder that the sums involved were not in the form of a grant.

The reality was not a limitation unique to Fiji or the RBF method-ology, rather a well recognised feature of aggregate inflation statistics worldwide, Mr Myers said.

Community-based tourism was identified as a major opportunity to address poverty and revenue leakage in Fiji’s tourism industry.

"There's a strong and growing global interest for Fiji rugby. This partnership allows us to harness that interest as well as responsibly do it strategically."