1. FIJI AND PACIFIC SMALL ISLAND STATES TO TALK COOPERATION WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA – The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Ratu Inoke Kubuabola will represent Fiji at a meeting to discuss strengthening cooperation between Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDs) and Republic of Korea (ROK) from 23 to 26 November 2014 in Seoul, ROK.
2. FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENDS APPOINTMENT OF INCHEON HONORARY CONSUL – Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has commended the newly appointed Honorary Consul in Incheon in Korea Lee Kyong Ho for volunteering to be Fiji’s representative in his area.
3. MINISTRY AIMS TO STRENGTHEN RICE INDUSTRY – The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recently organised an inaugural meeting for the Training of Trainers (TOT) on integrated rice crop management.
4. MINISTER STRESSES ON QUALITY EDUCATION – The Hon. Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Ms Rosy Sofia Akbar commended Nasinu Muslim College for its participation in activities that support students’ holistic development.
5. DETERMINATION KEY TO YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD – Hard work and determination has been the key to success for the inaugural winner of the Youth Entrepreneurship Award Devesh Prashiel Nath.
1. FIJI AND PACIFIC SMALL ISLAND STATES TO TALK COOPERATION WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Ratu Inoke Kubuabola will represent Fiji at a meeting to discuss strengthening cooperation between Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDs) and Republic of Korea (ROK) from 23 to 26 November 2014 in Seoul, ROK.
Under the theme of ‘Building Inclusive and Enduring Pacific Partnership for Co-Prosperity’, the Minister will engage in discussions on building closer friendship and cooperation between PSIDs and the ROK in areas of mutual interests including development, climate change, and marine and fisheries affairs.
The meeting will also review the progress made in cooperation between the two sides since their first meeting in Busan in 2011, and address ways to strengthen relations in both bilateral and multilateral agendas.
Ratu Inoke will also meet bilaterally with ROK Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and pay courtesy call on ROK Head of State and President, Park Geun-hye.
The session on development cooperation is expected to cover bilateral development cooperation and partnerships. The agenda of the session on climate change will cover the new, post-2020 climate regime, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the World Water Forum 2015.
The session on maritime and fishery cooperation will deal with fishery cooperation, deep-sea mineral reserves, ocean thermal energy conversion and other new and renewable energy sources and cooperation on marine scientific research.
The meeting will also discuss modalities for cooperation and how ROK will manage and step up its cooperation with Pacific Small Island Development States.
2. FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENDS APPOINTMENT OF INCHEON HONORARY CONSUL
Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has commended the newly appointed Honorary Consul in Incheon in Korea Lee Kyong Ho for volunteering to be Fiji’s representative in his area.
Ratu Inoke when speaking to Lee Kyong Ho said that Incheon was an important gateway especially for Fijian dignitaries who used that port for transit.
He told Mr Lee that given the number of Fijian dignitaries who transit in Incheon Airport daily, he would be required to facilitate them on their arrivals.
Although it is unpaid, Ratu Inoke said the honorary consul would be responsible for the welfare of citizens within their assigned territory usually providing advice and guidance and assist citizens in their contacts with local authorities and businesses.
Given his network in Korea, Ratu Inoke was hopeful that Mr Lee would market Fiji extensively to his contacts and he would also bring in investors from Korea to Fiji.
Mr Lee reassured Ratu Inoke that the ministry could bank on him to provide consular services for the nation as well as make a contribution to Fiji’s economy.
Fiji’s Ambassador to Korea Ambassador Filimone Kau said that the right decision was made in choosing Mr Lee.
3. MINISTRY AIMS TO STRENGTHEN RICE INDUSTRY
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recently organised an inaugural meeting for the Training of Trainers (TOT) on integrated rice crop management.
The training was carried out under the Ministry’s National Rice Revitalisation programme and saw discussions on improving food security through an increase in rice production and reduce rice imports into Fiji.
The FAO is assisting Fiji to provide technical support to the Ministry of Agriculture covering technical and financial support to the Training of Trainers and farmer’s field school in all aspects of rice crop management.
The FAO consultant Tevita Keresoma said the main aim of the meeting was to have a better understanding of the program and develop plans on the training programme for the first year.
“The training will be conducted by the FAO consultant with technical support from the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok, and the Sub regional Office in Samoa. Field trainers and farmers will apply new skills leading to sustainable rice production and increase productivity,” Mr Keresoma said.
He added that the project would contribute to increase Fiji’s rice production to meet the 2020 target of self-sufficiency.
The Deputy Secretary Agriculture Development, Uriaia Waibuta thanked the counterparts for their partnership and urged them to develop practical packages that is affordable for the local farmers to increase rice production in Fiji.
In 2012 Fiji produced 6800 tonnes of rice and the expectation for this year in around 7000-8000 tonnes. Fiji imports about $40m worth of rice annually.
Senior technical staff of the Ministry, the consultants from the FAO and the representatives from the Grace Road Food Company Limited attended the meeting.
4. MINISTER STRESSES ON QUALITY EDUCATION
The Hon. Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Ms Rosy Sofia Akbar commended Nasinu Muslim College for its participation in activities that support students’ holistic development.
Officiating at the school’s annual prize giving ceremony today, the Minister said Government is serious on its stand for quality education necessitated by quality teachers.
“You are fortunate that this institution has prepared you exceptionally well. The decisions you make today will determine what you become in your future.”
Nasinu Muslim College, Student of the Year award for Year 11 of 2014, Pitale Colati who received prize for Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics said he was happy to receive the student award for Year 11 as he had studied hard for the prize.
“I am grateful for the recognition and dedicate this award to my parents for the inspiration. I will work towards a scholarship to study for my career path,” Colati said.
The second youngest of five siblings, Colati said he wants to become a surgeon when he finishes his tertiary studies.
Ms Akbar reminded students that the academic journey is not over yet as they will face many challenges and the next phase in their life is the training ground.
5. DETERMINATION KEY TO YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD
Hard work and determination has been the key to success for the inaugural winner of the Youth Entrepreneurship Award Devesh Prashiel Nath.
The Award is sponsored by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“My secret to success has been hard work, determination and always being focused on the goals I set for myself,” Mr Nath said.
Mr Nath who manages Devesh and Bharos Farms was thankful that his work had paid off with the recognition.
“I am very happy that all my hard work and sacrifice has been recognised with this award.”
“I am also thankful to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their sponsorship of this award as it sends a message across to youths to set and achieve goals they have for themselves,” he added.
Mr Nath began his commercial agricultural operations in 2009 and has since won three awards at the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards.
The Youth Entrepreneurship Award was sponsored by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to encourage more young people to enter the investment and export sector.
DEPTFO